Shloka 42
नरकलोकवर्णनम् (Narakaloka-varṇanam) — Description of the Hell-Realms
हालाहलो विरूपश्च स्वरूपश्च यमानुगः । एकपादस्त्रिपादश्च तीव्रश्चाचीवरं तमः
hālāhalo virūpaśca svarūpaśca yamānugaḥ | ekapādastripādaśca tīvraścācīvaraṃ tamaḥ
“Hālāhala; the Deformed and the Well-formed; the Follower of Yama; the One-footed and the Three-footed; the Fierce; and ‘Ācīvara,’ Darkness itself”—these too are spoken of as names and forms connected with Rudra’s dreadful, obscuring powers.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It lists fierce names/forms associated with darkness, death, and poison to show that even these limiting powers are under Rudra’s sovereignty; in Shaiva Siddhanta, Shiva as Pati can dissolve the pasha of tamas and fear.
Such names support Saguna worship: devotees contemplate Shiva’s awe-inspiring aspects (protector even amid poison and death) and take refuge in the Linga as the stable symbol of Pati beyond all frightening appearances.
Meditate on Shiva as the master of tamas and death while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); on Mahashivratri, combine japa with Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as reminders of dispassion and inner purification.