Shloka 5

एकादशरुद्रावतारकथनम् / Account of the Eleven Rudra Manifestations

Rudrāvatāras

Devanagari script

कपाली १ पिंगलो २ भीमो ३ विरूपाक्षो ४ विलोहितः

Transliteration

kapālī 1 piṃgalo 2 bhīmo 3 virūpākṣo 4 vilohitaḥ

Translation

He is Kapālī, the Skull-bearer; Piṅgala, the tawny-hued One; Bhīma, the Terrible and awe-inspiring Lord; Virūpākṣa, the One of wondrous, all-seeing eyes; and Vilohita, the Ruddy-red One—these are names of Śiva’s manifold forms.

Word by Word

• kapālī: Kapālī (skull-bearer)
• kapālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); नाम (epithet)

• piṅgalaḥ: Piṅgala (tawny/reddish-brown)
• piṅgalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); नाम (epithet)

• bhīmaḥ: Bhīma (terrible)
• bhīmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); नाम (epithet)

• virūpa-akṣaḥ: Virūpākṣa (odd/unique-eyed)
• virūpa-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः ‘विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य’ (one whose eyes are unusual)

• vilohitaḥ: Vilohita (reddish)
• vilohitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vilohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); नाम (epithet)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: kapālī piṃgalo bhīmo virūpākṣo vilohitaḥ

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse presents key epithets of Rudra to support devotional contemplation (bhakti) of Saguna Śiva—recognizing that the one Supreme Pati appears through countless forms, each revealing a distinct power, mood, and grace.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

These names are invoked while worshiping the Liṅga as the accessible Saguna manifestation of the Nirguna Supreme—adoring Śiva through attributes like Kapālī (renunciation) and Virūpākṣa (all-seeing awareness).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa or recitation of Rudra-nāmas with the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering bilva leaves and applying tripuṇḍra bhasma, while meditating on each name as a doorway into Śiva’s presence.