Shloka 31
शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)
वायुश्च वरुणश्चैव बुधश्च मंगलश्च वै । ग्रहाश्चान्ये महेशेन कामदेवश्च वीर्यवान्
vāyuśca varuṇaścaiva budhaśca maṃgalaśca vai | grahāścānye maheśena kāmadevaśca vīryavān
Vāyu and Varuṇa, Budha (Mercury) and Maṅgala (Mars), and the other planetary powers as well—together with the mighty Kāmadeva—were all arrayed and empowered by Maheśa, Lord Śiva.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Type: rudram
FAQs
The verse affirms Śiva as Maheśa—the supreme Lord under whom even elemental deities, the grahas (fate-bearing powers), and Kāma (desire) operate. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, it points to Pati’s sovereignty over all binding forces (pāśa), implying liberation comes by taking refuge in Śiva rather than fearing cosmic influences.
By naming devas and grahas as functioning “by Maheśa,” the text supports Saguna Śiva worship (including Śiva-liṅga pūjā) as the direct approach to the Lord who governs all subordinate powers. Devotion to the Liṅga is thus portrayed as superior to appeasing planets independently, since the source-authority is Śiva.
A practical takeaway is to center remedies in Śiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Śiva, and offering water to the Śiva-liṅga—practices traditionally held to pacify graha-related anxieties by aligning the mind with Maheśa.