Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot
Pre-battle Portents
केशो विगतवासश्च महाकेशो महाज्वरः । सोमवल्लीसवर्णश्च सोमदस्सनकस्तथा
keśo vigatavāsaśca mahākeśo mahājvaraḥ | somavallīsavarṇaśca somadassanakastathā
He is Keśa—the radiant One with sacred locks; He is Vigatavāsa—free from worldly coverings and attachments. He is Mahākeśa, of vast and mighty matted hair, and Mahājvara—the Great Fever who kindles and also removes the burning of saṃsāra. He is of the hue of the Soma-creeper; He is Soma-da, the Giver of Soma, nectar-like grace; and He is also Sanaka—the ever-youthful, sage-like Lord.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana’s account to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Mantra: केशो विगतवासश्च महाकेशो महाज्वरः । सोमवल्लीसवर्णश्च सोमदस्सनकस्तथा
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse presents Shiva’s names as contemplative gateways: His ascetic transcendence (Vigatavāsa), His cosmic power (Mahākeśa), and His capacity to both manifest and dissolve suffering (Mahājvara), culminating in grace as nectar (Somada).
These epithets support Saguna-upāsanā: devotees worship the Linga while meditating on Shiva’s attributes—ascetic sovereignty, cosmic heat, and compassion—so the mind becomes steady and receptive to His anugraha (liberating grace).
A practical takeaway is nāma-japa: chant these Shiva-nāmas (or the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while visualizing Shiva with matted locks and cool Soma-like radiance, praying for the burning of afflictions (jvara) to be pacified by His grace.