Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11
देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas
सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य विधेर्वाणीं सर्वे देवास्सवासवाः । दुखितास्ते ययुस्तत्र यत्रास्ते वृषभध्वजः
sanatkumāra uvāca | ityākarṇya vidhervāṇīṃ sarve devāssavāsavāḥ | dukhitāste yayustatra yatrāste vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ
Sanatkumāra dit : Ayant ainsi entendu les paroles de Brahmā, l’Ordonnateur, tous les dieux—avec Indra—s’attristèrent et se rendirent là où se tenait Vṛṣabhadhvaja, le Seigneur Śiva dont la bannière porte le taureau.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; ‘Vṛṣabhadhvaja’ signals Śiva as Paśupati with Nandin/bull emblem, the refuge approached by devas in distress.
Significance: General: approaching Śiva’s sannidhi in duḥkha is portrayed as the dharmic response; darśana of Vṛṣabhadhvaja grants protection and right direction.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It shows that even the devas, when troubled, take refuge in Lord Śiva (Pati), acknowledging Him as the supreme protector and final recourse—an essential Shaiva Siddhanta theme of surrender beyond limited powers.
The epithet Vṛṣabhadhvaja points to Saguna Śiva—Śiva with attributes and compassionate accessibility—whom devotees (and even gods) approach for grace; this same approachable Lord is worshiped through the Śiva-liṅga as His manifest, worship-receiving form.
The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): approach Śiva with humility through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and steady the mind in remembrance of Śiva as the bull-bannered protector.