Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
रुद्ररथ-निर्माणवर्णनम् / Description of Rudra’s Divine Chariot Construction
बलाशया वराश्चैव सर्वलक्षणसंयुताः । मंत्रा घंटाः स्मृतास्तेषां वर्णपादास्तदाश्रमाः
balāśayā varāścaiva sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutāḥ | maṃtrā ghaṃṭāḥ smṛtāsteṣāṃ varṇapādāstadāśramāḥ
Mit Kraft, Heilsverheißung und allen Kennzeichen ausgestattet, werden sie als „Mantras“ und „Glocken“ erinnert; und Silben wie metrische Füße gelten ihnen als ihre eigenen Wohnstätten (Stützen).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse elevates sacred sound—mantra, bell-tone, syllable, and meter—as living supports of worship, implying that devotion to Shiva is carried and stabilized through disciplined, auspicious vibration (śabda) that purifies the soul and turns it toward Pati (Shiva).
In Saguna worship, sound offerings accompany form worship: mantra-japa and the ringing of bells frame the devotee’s approach to the Linga, protecting attention from distraction and consecrating the act as a reverent encounter with Shiva’s manifest presence.
Regular mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with mindful bell-ringing and correct pronunciation/metrical recitation is suggested—treating syllables and rhythm as the ‘support’ that steadies meditation and devotion.