Shloka 64
Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ
The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे शम्भुर्बालरूपः सतां गतिः । सोऽपि विश्वानरो विप्रो हृष्टात्मा स्वगृहं ययौ
nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvāntardadhe śambhurbālarūpaḥ satāṃ gatiḥ | so'pi viśvānaro vipro hṛṣṭātmā svagṛhaṃ yayau
Nandīśvara said: Having spoken thus, Śambhu—who had assumed the form of a boy, the supreme refuge and goal of the virtuous—then vanished from sight. And that brāhmaṇa Viśvānara too, his heart filled with joy, returned to his own home.
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: A narrative motif: Śiva appears in an accessible disguise (bālarūpa) to instruct/confirm a devotee, then withdraws (antardhāna). Not tied to a named Jyotirliṅga here.
Significance: Highlights darśana as grace and antardhāna as divine concealment; encourages faith that Śiva’s guidance may come in humble forms.
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as “satāṁ gatiḥ”—the ultimate refuge and goal of the righteous—and shows that His grace may appear in simple, approachable forms, then withdraw once the purpose of blessing is fulfilled.
Śiva’s “bāla-rūpa” underscores Saguna worship: the Lord compassionately assumes a perceivable form for devotees, while His disappearance points to His transcendent nature beyond form—both harmonized in Shaiva devotion, including Linga-upāsanā.
The takeaway is steady bhakti with remembrance of Śiva as the inner refuge—supported by daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple worship (e.g., Tripuṇḍra and reverent prayer), even after a divine experience passes.