Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
Śiva’s Freedom from Bondage and His Cosmic Support (शिवस्य अबन्धत्वं तथा सर्वाधिष्ठानत्वम्)
यो ऽवसर्पत्य सौ देवो नीलग्रीवो हिरण्मयः । सौम्यो घोरस्तथा मिश्रश्चाक्षारश्चामृतो ऽव्ययः
yo 'vasarpatya sau devo nīlagrīvo hiraṇmayaḥ | saumyo ghorastathā miśraścākṣāraścāmṛto 'vyayaḥ
Jener selbe Deva, der hervortritt und sich bewegt—blaukehlig und golden strahlend—erscheint als der Sanfte, der Schreckliche und der Vermischte; Er ist der Unvergängliche, der unsterbliche Nektar und der Unwandelbare.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Sthala Purana: Though not naming a Jyotirliṅga, the epithet Nīlagrīva evokes the samudra-manthana poison episode (Hālāhala) where Śiva contains the cosmic toxin—often recalled in many kṣetras.
Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as both saumya and ghora grants steadiness amid fear and impurity; devotion transforms विष (poison) into amṛta (nectar) by grace.
Type: rudram
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: Implicit echo of samudra-manthana (cosmic churning) via Nīlagrīva/amṛta polarity
FAQs
It presents Śiva as the one Reality who manifests in multiple experiential modes—gentle, fierce, and combined—while remaining akṣara (imperishable) and avyaya (unchanging), guiding the soul (paśu) beyond limitation toward liberation.
The verse supports Saguna worship by affirming Śiva’s approachable forms (saumya/ghora/miśra), while also grounding Linga-upāsanā in His transcendence as amṛta, akṣara, and avyaya—form as a doorway to the formless truth.
Meditate on Neelagrīva Śiva in japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Him as both compassionate and awe-inspiring, and as the imperishable Self; this supports inner steadiness (yoga) and detachment from the perishable.