Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38
सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship
ब्राह्मणाभ्यर्थिता चैव देवी गिरिवरात्मजा । त्वक्कोशं सहसोत्सृज्य गौरी सा समजायत
brāhmaṇābhyarthitā caiva devī girivarātmajā | tvakkośaṃ sahasotsṛjya gaurī sā samajāyata
So von den Brahmanen angefleht, legte die Göttin – die Tochter des besten der Berge – sogleich ihre äußere Hauthülle ab; und sie wurde Gaurī (die Helle, Strahlende).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse belongs to Devī’s transformation narrative (Gaurī arising by casting off the sheath).
Significance: General: contemplation of Gaurī’s auspiciousness (śubhatva) and purity as preparatory to Śiva-bhakti and Devī-upāsanā.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It presents inner purification as the fruit of tapas and divine intent: Pārvatī, urged by the brāhmaṇas, casts off an outer covering and manifests as “Gaurī,” symbolizing the soul’s movement from impurity toward luminous auspiciousness under Shiva’s grace.
Gaurī’s transformation highlights the Saguna dimension of Shiva’s path: devotees approach Shiva through the living powers of Śiva-Śakti, where purity, devotion, and right conduct prepare one for Linga worship and the reception of Shiva’s anugraha (saving grace).
The verse implies purification through disciplined tapas and prayerful intent; a practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a purity-vow (śauca), supporting inner “sheath-shedding” of mala (impurity).