Shloka 45
Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam
The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तं शिवा देवी शिवतत्त्वं जगाद सा । यत्र ब्रह्मतया रुद्रः कथ्यते निर्गुणोऽव्ययः
nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvā taṃ śivā devī śivatattvaṃ jagāda sā | yatra brahmatayā rudraḥ kathyate nirguṇo'vyayaḥ
Nandīśvara said: Having thus spoken to him, the Goddess Śivā expounded the principle of Śiva—where Rudra is taught as Brahman itself, attributeless (nirguṇa) and imperishable (avyaya).
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha
Sthala Purana: The teaching of Rudra as nirguṇa Brahman evokes the Himalayan guru-aspect of Śiva; Kedāra’s sthala traditions emphasize Śiva’s transcendence and tapas-associated revelation (though this verse itself is not a Kedāra-specific episode).
Significance: Positions Śiva as Brahman (nirguṇa, avyaya), supporting jñāna-bhakti; pilgrimage is sought for pāpa-kṣaya and firm establishment in Śiva-tattva.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It frames Rudra (Śiva) as the supreme, imperishable Brahman—beyond the three guṇas—teaching that liberation arises from knowing Śiva-tattva as the ultimate reality, not merely as a limited form.
While the verse speaks of Nirguṇa Rudra, Shaiva practice commonly approaches the same reality through Saguna upāsanā—especially Śiva-liṅga worship—using form as a sacred support that leads the mind to the formless, imperishable Śiva.
A fitting takeaway is Nirguṇa-dhyāna supported by mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—contemplating Śiva as attributeless and undecaying, even while offering simple liṅga-pūjā as an aid.