Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
मयस्य शिवस्तुतिः — Maya’s Hymn to Śiva
and Śiva’s Gracious Response
मय उवाच देवदेव महादेव भक्तवत्सल शंकरः । कल्पवृक्षस्वरूपोसि सर्वपक्षविवर्जितः
maya uvāca devadeva mahādeva bhaktavatsala śaṃkaraḥ | kalpavṛkṣasvarūposi sarvapakṣavivarjitaḥ
Mayā sprach: „O Gott der Götter, o Mahādeva, o Śaṅkara, der den Verehrern liebevoll zugetan ist! Wahrlich, du bist von der Natur des Kalpavṛkṣa, des wunscherfüllenden Baumes, und du bist frei von jeder Parteilichkeit, ohne irgendeine Seite zu ergreifen.“
Mayā
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga-sthala episode; the line functions as a general stuti in a battle-context, praising Śiva’s impartial grace and wish-fulfilling nature.
Significance: General: remembrance of Śiva as bhaktavatsala and nirapakṣa (impartial) is said to remove anxiety about divine favoritism and to steady surrender (śaraṇāgati).
Type: stotra
FAQs
It portrays Śiva as bhaktavatsala (gracious to devotees) and sarvapakṣavivarjita (beyond favoritism), indicating the Shaiva Siddhānta view that the Lord’s grace is impartial in essence, yet responds to sincere devotion and surrender.
Calling Śiva a ‘kalpavṛkṣa’ supports Saguna upāsanā—devotees approach Śiva (often through the Liṅga) for protection and boons; yet His ‘freedom from sides’ reminds worshippers that the Liṅga represents the Lord who transcends worldly factions and ego-driven claims.
A practical takeaway is bhakti-based japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of non-partisanship and humility—seeking Śiva’s grace not for rivalry, but for purification and liberation.