Shloka 9
Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam
The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity
अतीव स्थविरो विप्रदेहधारी स्वतेजसा । प्रज्वलन्मनसा हृष्टो दण्डी छत्री महोज्जलः
atīva sthaviro vipradehadhārī svatejasā | prajvalanmanasā hṛṣṭo daṇḍī chatrī mahojjalaḥ
তিনি অতিশয় বৃদ্ধ, ব্রাহ্মণ-দেহধারী হয়ে স্বতেজে দীপ্তিমান হয়ে প্রকাশিত হলেন। তপোবলে প্রজ্বলিত মনে হর্ষিত, দণ্ড ও ছত্র ধারণ করে মহা উজ্জ্বল ছিলেন।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; Śiva’s adoption of an aged brāhmaṇa body with staff and parasol is a classic concealment motif—divinity masked as social-religious authority to test discernment and vrata.
Significance: Teaches that Śiva may arrive as the ‘ordinary’ (an old brāhmaṇa/ascetic); honoring dharma and humility toward such forms becomes a pilgrimage of perception (darśana-buddhi).
FAQs
It highlights Shiva’s līlā of assuming a humble outer form while remaining self-luminous within, teaching that the Divine (Pati) may be recognized not by appearance but by inner tejas and awakened consciousness.
The verse emphasizes Saguna manifestation—Shiva taking a perceivable form—yet points back to his Nirguna truth through “svatejasā,” indicating that the same Shiva worshiped as the Linga is the self-effulgent reality behind all forms.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna on inner tejas (the ‘prajvalan’ mind) with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating discernment to see Shiva’s presence beyond external appearances.