Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56
सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct
Prelude to Detailed Narrative
चतुर्भुजं हरिं त्वां नो दृष्ट्वेव मुदितोऽभवत् । यथेदं रूपममलं पश्यन्नानंदमाप्तवान्
caturbhujaṃ hariṃ tvāṃ no dṛṣṭveva mudito'bhavat | yathedaṃ rūpamamalaṃ paśyannānaṃdamāptavān
En Te voyant sous la forme de Hari (Viṣṇu) aux quatre bras, il fut aussitôt transporté de joie. Contemplant cette forme immaculée et de bon augure, il atteignit une béatitude profonde.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Satīkhaṇḍa episode to the sages, describing the joy upon seeing the divine form)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga; the verse depicts a theophany-like recognition: seeing the ‘caturbhuja Hari’ form produces ānanda—functionally akin to darśana-bestowed grace.
Significance: Affirms that true darśana yields ānanda and devotion; in Śaiva framing, such joy is a sign of anugraha and purification of the paśu’s cognition.
Role: nurturing
Offering: dipa
FAQs
The verse highlights darśana (direct sacred vision) as a grace-filled catalyst: when the mind beholds a pure, divine form, devotion ripens into ānanda. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, such joy is a sign of Śiva’s anugraha (grace) working through a manifest (saguṇa) revelation that uplifts the bound soul (paśu).
It supports the principle that the Absolute compassionately becomes approachable through form. Just as a devotee is transformed by seeing a radiant deity-form, Linga worship similarly provides a saguṇa support for concentration, devotion, and receptivity to grace—leading the worshipper from outer symbol to inner realization.
Practice daily darśana-bhāvanā: sit before a Śiva-liṅga or Śiva image, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) if customary, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing a pure, luminous form—cultivating a steady, blissful awareness (ānanda) through devotion.