Shloka 60
गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा
Permission for Girijā’s Austerities
एवं चिंतयती नित्यं तेपे सा सुचिरं तपः । अधोमुखी निर्विकारा जटावल्कलधारिणी
evaṃ ciṃtayatī nityaṃ tepe sā suciraṃ tapaḥ | adhomukhī nirvikārā jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇī
So, stets in solcher Weise sinnend, übte sie sehr lange Tapas—das Antlitz nach innen geneigt, unbewegt inmitten wechselnder Umstände, mit jaṭā und in Rindenkleidern—und richtete ihre Askese standhaft auf Śiva, den Herrn, der Mokṣa gewährt.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Models tapas and inwardness (adhomukhī) as a discipline that turns the mind from māyā’s concealment toward Śiva; inspires pilgrims to undertake vrata/tapas for purification.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It presents Pārvatī as the exemplar of focused tapas: steady contemplation, emotional non-reactivity (nirvikāratā), and ascetic simplicity, showing how disciplined devotion purifies bondage (pāśa) and turns the soul toward Śiva (Pati) for grace and liberation.
Her outward austerity and inward concentration reflect Saguna worship as a practical path—approaching Śiva through form, vow, and meditation—until the mind becomes stable enough to receive Śiva’s grace and realize his deeper, transcendent nature.
It suggests inward-facing meditation (adhomukhī) with steadfast restraint and simplicity; in practice, devotees may pair such contemplation with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Śaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports to steadiness.