Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
खड्गी त्रिशूली लकुटी कपर्दी चतुर्भुजो गौरतराकृतिर्हि । भस्मानुलिप्तो विलसत्सुतेजास्तपस्विवर्योऽद्भुतसर्ववेशः
khaḍgī triśūlī lakuṭī kapardī caturbhujo gauratarākṛtirhi | bhasmānulipto vilasatsutejāstapasvivaryo'dbhutasarvaveśaḥ
Il apparut portant une épée, un trident et une massue, les cheveux emmêlés et tressés, doté de quatre bras et d'une forme radieuse au teint clair. Enduit de cendres sacrées, flamboyant d'un splendide éclat spirituel, il était le premier des ascètes — merveilleux, revêtant à volonté toutes sortes d'apparences.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
The verse presents Shiva as the supreme Pati—both the fierce protector (weapons, divine power) and the highest yogin (tapas, tejas). His bhasma signifies the burning away of impurities and the transcendence of worldly identity, pointing toward liberation through Shaiva discipline and grace.
Although Linga worship often points to the Nirguna reality, this verse highlights Saguna Shiva—His manifest, approachable form with attributes. In Shaiva Siddhanta, devotion to the manifest Lord purifies the soul and matures it toward realizing Shiva’s transcendent nature.
The explicit marker is bhasma: applying sacred ash (Tripuṇḍra) with remembrance of Shiva, along with cultivating tapas (self-discipline) and mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to awaken inner tejas and steadiness.