Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21
गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization
सनत्कुमार उवाच । इतीदं सत्पुत्रात्प्रमथपतिराकर्ण्य कुपितश्चिरं ध्यात्वा चक्रे त्रिभुवनपतिः प्रागनुपमम् । प्रगायत्सामाख्यं दिनकरकराकारवपुषा प्रहासात्तन्नाम्ना तदनु निहतं तेन च तमः
sanatkumāra uvāca | itīdaṃ satputrātpramathapatirākarṇya kupitaściraṃ dhyātvā cakre tribhuvanapatiḥ prāganupamam | pragāyatsāmākhyaṃ dinakarakarākāravapuṣā prahāsāttannāmnā tadanu nihataṃ tena ca tamaḥ
Sanatkumāra sprach: Als Pramathapati (Śiva, Herr der Gaṇas) diese Worte von jenem edlen Sohn vernahm, geriet er in Zorn; und nach langem Sinnen brachte der Herr der drei Welten etwas zuvor Unerhörtes hervor. Einen Sāman-Hymnus singend, offenbarte er eine Gestalt, den Strahlen der Sonne gleich; und durch sein eigenes Lachen—das jenen eben ausgesprochenen Namen trug—schlug er daraufhin die Finsternis nieder.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Though not a Jyotirliṅga account, the motif of Śiva manifesting unprecedented radiance to destroy darkness parallels Liṅga/Jyoti themes where Śiva appears as self-luminous reality dispelling ignorance.
Mantra: (Implied) sāman-chant (Sāmavedic) uttered by Śiva; specific text not quoted.
Type: rudram
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Dispelling of a supernatural tamas through Śiva’s unprecedented manifestation; a microcosmic ‘ignorance-destruction’ event within the war narrative.
FAQs
The verse portrays Śiva as the supreme Pati whose conscious power manifests as light that destroys tamas (ignorance). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, darkness symbolizes āṇava and māyika obscuration; Śiva’s grace (anugraha) alone reveals clarity and restores dharma.
Śiva’s ‘sun-like’ manifested form highlights Saguna worship—approaching the transcendent Lord through a perceivable, radiant form. Linga worship similarly trains the devotee to recognize Śiva as the luminous reality within and beyond form, dispelling inner darkness through devotion and contemplation.
The verse emphasizes dhyāna (long contemplation) and sacred sound (Sāman-like chant). A practical takeaway is japa of a Śiva-mantra (such as the Pañcākṣarī) with focused meditation, aiming at removing tamas and cultivating sattva and inner illumination.