Shloka 24
अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka
Genealogy and Nature
सनत्कुमार उवाच । श्रुत्वा हरस्तद्वचनं प्रियाया लीलाकरस्सृष्टिकृतोंऽधरूपाम् । लीलाकरायास्त्रिजगज्जनन्या विहस्य किंचिद्भगवानुवाच
sanatkumāra uvāca | śrutvā harastadvacanaṃ priyāyā līlākarassṛṣṭikṛtoṃ'dharūpām | līlākarāyāstrijagajjananyā vihasya kiṃcidbhagavānuvāca
Sanatkumāra said: Hearing the words of his beloved—she who, for the sake of divine play (līlā), had assumed a form that brought forth creation, the Mother who gives birth to the three worlds—Lord Hara smiled a little and then spoke.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva view that creation unfolds through Śiva’s conscious lordship (Pati) in harmony with Śakti, the Mother of the three worlds, and that even cosmic acts arise from līlā—divine freedom rather than necessity.
By portraying Hara as a responsive, gracious Lord who smiles and speaks, it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as a personal, compassionate deity—while implying his transcendence behind manifested forms, as symbolized in Linga worship.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate bhakti with mindful recitation of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while contemplating Śiva-Śakti unity—seeing all experiences as arising within divine līlā.