Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35
शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra
तमित्थं शंकरो हत्वा शिवलोकं जगाम सः । सुप्रहृष्टो वृषारूढः सोमस्कन्दगणैर्वृतः
tamitthaṃ śaṃkaro hatvā śivalokaṃ jagāma saḥ | suprahṛṣṭo vṛṣārūḍhaḥ somaskandagaṇairvṛtaḥ
Thus, having slain the foe in this manner, Śaṅkara went to Śivaloka. Exceedingly delighted, mounted upon the Bull, he was surrounded by the gaṇas, together with Soma and Skanda.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it narrates Śiva’s victorious return to Śivaloka after slaying the adversary, attended by gaṇas and divine sons.
Significance: Frames Śiva as the cosmic sovereign whose victory restores dharma; hearing/reciting such carita is presented as merit-giving in Purāṇic reception contexts.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It portrays Śiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord who restores dharma by removing obstructive forces, then abides in his own Śivaloka, surrounded by his divine retinue, indicating cosmic order re-established under his grace.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śaṅkara with Nandi and gaṇas—supporting devotional worship where the devotee contemplates Śiva’s compassionate, victorious form, which ultimately leads the mind toward his transcendent (nirguṇa) reality.
Meditate on Śiva as Vṛṣārūḍha (mounted on Nandi) and recite the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a victory-over-obstacles contemplation, aligning oneself with Śiva’s protective grace.