Shloka 38
Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana
Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities
वर्षाणि च गतान्यासन्वृष्टिर्नैवाभवत्तदा । यावच्चाप्यत्रिणा ह्येवं तपसा ध्यानमाश्रितम्
varṣāṇi ca gatānyāsanvṛṣṭirnaivābhavattadā | yāvaccāpyatriṇā hyevaṃ tapasā dhyānamāśritam
Years passed, yet in that time no rain fell at all—so long as the sage Atri remained thus established in tapas and meditative absorption (dhyāna).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Cosmic Event: drought (anāvṛṣṭi) during prolonged tapas
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva ideal that sustained tapas joined with dhyāna concentrates the mind on Pati (Lord Shiva), making inner realization primary even amid outer hardship like drought.
Though the verse does not name the Liṅga directly, Atri’s dhyāna reflects Saguna upāsanā—steady contemplation of Shiva’s accessible form—by which grace later manifests in the world, a recurring Kotirudra theme connected to Jyotirliṅga glory.
The takeaway is sustained dhyāna supported by tapas—regular, disciplined meditation (often paired in Shaiva practice with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and purity observances such as bhasma and rudrākṣa where applicable).