Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 55
हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
तपस्यतश्च सृष्ट्यर्थं भ्रुवोर्घ्राणस्य मध्यतः । अविमुक्ताभिधाद्देशात्स्वकीयान्मे विशेषतः
tapasyataśca sṛṣṭyarthaṃ bhruvorghrāṇasya madhyataḥ | avimuktābhidhāddeśātsvakīyānme viśeṣataḥ
Tandis que j’accomplissais l’austérité en vue de la création, de la région entre mes sourcils et le milieu de mon nez—et plus particulièrement de mon propre lieu sacré nommé Avimukta—une manifestation divine surgit.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Avimukta is the classical epithet of Kāśī: the ‘never-abandoned’ kṣetra of Śiva. The verse’s mention of Avimukta as Śiva’s own special domain aligns with Kāśī’s sthala-tradition where Śiva remains ever-present and grants liberation.
Significance: Kāśī/Avimukta is held to confer mokṣa through Śiva’s abiding presence; here it also functions as a cosmic ‘source-point’ for manifestation, linking creation (sṛṣṭi) to Śiva’s kṣetra.
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: cosmogonic manifestation linked to sṛṣṭi-artha (purpose of creation)
FAQs
It links cosmic creation with Shiva’s tapas and the inner yogic center (between the eyebrows), teaching that manifestation arises from the Lord’s conscious power (Śiva-Śakti) and that Avimukta is a uniquely liberating locus of His grace.
By describing a concrete ‘place’ (Avimukta) and a specific yogic locus, the verse supports Saguna worship—Shiva is approached through sacred kshetras and embodied symbols like the Linga, where His presence is specially accessible for devotion and liberation.
Meditation on the brow-center (ājñā) with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is suggested implicitly; pilgrimage and worship at Avimukta (Kashi), with Shaiva rites such as Tripuṇḍra and devotion to Shiva, are also indicated.