Shloka 25
वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
अग्निकृच्छतकोट्या च कोट्याग्निमुख एव च । आदित्यमूर्द्धा कोट्या च तथा चैव घनावहः
agnikṛcchatakoṭyā ca koṭyāgnimukha eva ca | ādityamūrddhā koṭyā ca tathā caiva ghanāvahaḥ
Rudra is called Agnikṛcchata-koṭya; and also Koṭy-agnimukha, “whose face is a myriad fires.” He is Koṭy-āditya-mūrdhā, “whose head is a myriad suns,” and likewise Ghanāvaha, “the bearer of dense clouds.”
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Type: stotra
FAQs
The verse presents Rudra as the cosmic governor of elemental powers—fire, sun, and rain-clouds—showing that all transforming forces in the universe operate through Shiva’s śakti. In Shaiva Siddhanta contemplation, this supports seeing the world’s energies as instruments of Pati (Shiva), guiding the soul toward reverence and surrender rather than fear of nature.
These epithets describe Saguna Shiva—the Lord with knowable attributes—so devotees can meditate on him as the indwelling power behind heat, light, and life-giving rains. Linga worship similarly points to Shiva as the universal source and support, where the Linga becomes a focused symbol for the same all-pervading Rudra described here.
A practical takeaway is Rudra-dhyāna with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), visualizing Shiva as the inner light of the sun and the purifying fire, while offering water (jala-abhisheka) to the Linga to honor him also as the giver of rains and sustenance.