शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्
Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras
जटीमुण्डी शिखण्डी च अर्द्धमुण्डश्च जज्ञिरे । योगेनादिश्य सद्धर्मं कृत्वा योगगतिं गताः
jaṭīmuṇḍī śikhaṇḍī ca arddhamuṇḍaśca jajñire | yogenādiśya saddharmaṃ kṛtvā yogagatiṃ gatāḥ
Daraufhin wurden die Gestalten Jaṭīmuṇḍī, Śikhaṇḍī und Arddhamuṇḍa geboren. Durch die Disziplin des Yoga lehrten sie den wahren Dharma; und nachdem sie den yogischen Pfad begründet hatten, erlangten sie die Vollendung des Yoga — mokṣa durch Vereinigung mit Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: teaching
It presents Rudra’s manifested forms as teachers of saddharma whose authority comes from yoga; the verse emphasizes that right teaching and right practice culminate in yogagati—liberation by attaining nearness and union with Pati (Śiva).
These Rudra-forms represent Saguna expressions of Śiva that guide devotees toward the same goal: inner purification and steadiness in dharma, which ripens into realization of Śiva. In Linga-worship, outward reverence supports the inward yoga that leads to yogagati.
The verse points to yoga as disciplined practice—ethical saddharma, meditation, and steady devotion to Śiva. A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) alongside meditation and regulated conduct, aiming at yogic absorption and liberation.