Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path
त्वमग्निरनिलो व्योम त्वमेवापो वसुंधरा । त्वं सूर्यश्चन्द्रमा भानि ज्योतिश्चक्रं त्वमेव हि
tvamagniranilo vyoma tvamevāpo vasuṃdharā | tvaṃ sūryaścandramā bhāni jyotiścakraṃ tvameva hi
Tu es le feu, le vent et l’immense étendue de l’espace ; Toi seul es les eaux et la terre. Tu es le soleil et la lune, les clartés rayonnantes—oui, toute la roue des astres lumineux n’est autre que Toi.
Suta Goswami (narrating the praise addressed to Lord Shiva within the Yuddha-khaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The identification of Śiva with the pañcabhūtas and the luminaries resonates with Kāśī’s Viśvanātha as ‘Lord of the Universe’, where Śiva is worshipped as the immanent ground of all elements and lights.
Significance: Darśana is held to grant jñāna and liberation (mokṣa) by recognizing the world as Śiva’s vyāpti (pervasion) while Śiva remains transcendent.
Mantra: त्वमग्निरनिलो व्योम त्वमेवापो वसुंधरा । त्वं सूर्यश्चन्द्रमा भानि ज्योतिश्चक्रं त्वमेव हि
Type: stotra
Role: creative
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It teaches Shiva as Pati—the indwelling Lord and ground of all elements and celestial lights—so devotion matures into the vision that the cosmos is pervaded and governed by Shiva, leading the seeker toward liberation.
The Linga is worshipped as the visible sign of the all-pervading Shiva; this verse supports Saguna upasana by identifying every cosmic form (elements, sun, moon, lights) as Shiva’s manifestation, while pointing beyond forms to the one Lord who pervades them.
Practice Shiva-smarana with the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating the five elements as Shiva’s presence; during puja, offer water, lamp/flame, incense/air, and flowers/earth to the Linga with this all-pervasive awareness.