Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च
The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival
तस्मिन्नवसरे रुद्रस्सभवानीगणः प्रभुः । त्रिलोकहितकृत्स्वामी तत्रागात्सूक्तिकृन्मुने
tasminnavasare rudrassabhavānīgaṇaḥ prabhuḥ | trilokahitakṛtsvāmī tatrāgātsūktikṛnmune
In eben diesem Augenblick kam Herr Rudra—der erhabene Souverän—dorthin, begleitet von Bhavānī und ihrem Gefolge, o Weiser. Der Meister, stets auf das Wohl der drei Welten bedacht, erschien und sprach glückverheißende, passende Worte.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Rudra’s arrival ‘with Bhavānī and her gaṇas’ at the Prayāga yajña marks the descent of salvific presence into the ritual arena; the Lord comes as triloka-hitakṛt, indicating that the true fruit of rites and debates is Śiva’s grace-bestowal.
Significance: Darśana of Rudra with Bhavānī is portrayed as the highest tīrtha-phala; the verse implies that welfare of worlds flows from Śiva’s compassionate governance and timely epiphany.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights Rudra as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who manifests in a personal, Saguna form for loka-kalyāṇa—the welfare of all beings across the three worlds—showing that divine appearance and speech are instruments of grace and right order (dharma).
By portraying Rudra arriving with Bhavānī and speaking auspicious words, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Shiva as a present, responsive Lord. Such remembrance naturally culminates in Linga worship as the stable, sacred form through which devotees receive Shiva’s anugraha (grace).
A practical takeaway is to begin worship with śubha-vāk (auspicious recitation), such as the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” while contemplating Shiva with Devi as benefactors of the three worlds—then proceed to Linga-pūjā with bhakti and right intention.