Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्
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जलमुवाच । अमुं रुदंतमानीय स्तन्यपानेन ताः प्रभो । वर्द्धयामासुरीशस्य सुतं तव रविप्रभम्
jalamuvāca | amuṃ rudaṃtamānīya stanyapānena tāḥ prabho | varddhayāmāsurīśasya sutaṃ tava raviprabham
Jala said: “O Lord, bringing that child who was crying, those mothers nourished him with their breast-milk and thus raised your son—radiant like the sun—who is the son of Īśa (Lord Śiva).”
Jala
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it emphasizes the nurturing (poshana) of Śiva’s son by the Kṛttikās through nursing—an image of cosmic sustenance.
Significance: Frames divine motherhood and caretaking as sacred service; supports bhakti through the motif of devas participating in Śiva’s līlā and the child’s protection.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: Sustenance of the divine child; ‘ravi-prabha’ imagery links to solar tejas
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva’s grace manifesting in family and caretaking: the divine child is protected and nourished through devoted service, showing that bhakti expressed as selfless care becomes a vehicle for Śiva’s providence in the world.
By calling the child “Īśa’s son,” the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva with attributes and līlā—whose divinity is approachable through sacred relationships and stories, complementing Linga-worship by giving devotees a personal, devotional focus.
The takeaway is sevā-bhāva (devotional service): nurturing, protecting, and serving as worship. Practically, one may pair such service with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as an inner offering to Īśa.