Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
त्रिपुरदाहानन्तरं देवभयः ब्रह्मस्तुतिश्च — Fear of the Gods after Tripura’s Burning and Brahmā’s Praise
अथ ब्रह्मा स्वयं देवं त्रिपुरारिं महेश्वरम् । तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा नतस्कंधः कृतांजलिः
atha brahmā svayaṃ devaṃ tripurāriṃ maheśvaram | tuṣṭāva praṇato bhūtvā nataskaṃdhaḥ kṛtāṃjaliḥ
Dann pries Brahmā selbst den göttlichen Herrn—Mahādeva, Maheśvara, den Feind Tripuras. In Ehrfurcht verneigt, die Schultern tief gesenkt und die Hände im Añjali gefaltet, brachte er seinen Hymnus der Verehrung dar.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the episode; within the scene Brahmā offers praise to Śiva)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
Sthala Purana: Brahmā’s bodily humility (nataskaṃdha, kṛtāñjali) enacts the Siddhānta principle that even cosmic offices (Brahmā) are paśu-status before Pati; praise is a doorway to anugraha.
Significance: Teaches the bhāva of namratā (humility) as prerequisite for receiving Śiva’s grace.
Mantra: अथ ब्रह्मा स्वयं देवं त्रिपुरारिं महेश्वरम् । तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा नतस्कंधः कृतांजलिः
Type: stotra
Cosmic Event: Post-Tripura victory; transition from battle to hymn
FAQs
It shows that even Brahmā approaches Śiva with humility and bhakti—affirming Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) who is worthy of stuti, praṇāma, and surrender, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on grace through devotion.
The verse models Saguna-upāsanā: approaching the personal Lord (Maheśvara/Tripurāri) with folded hands and praise. This same attitude is prescribed in Liṅga worship—external reverence expressing inner surrender to Śiva.
Practice praṇāma and añjali before Śiva (Liṅga or image), then recite a stuti or the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a bowed, humble posture—making the body’s gesture align with the mind’s devotion.