Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38
दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot
Pre-battle Portents
द्विशिखस्त्रिशिखश्चैव तथाहंकारकारकः । अजवक्त्रोऽष्टवक्त्रश्च हयवक्त्रोऽर्द्धवक्त्रकः
dviśikhastriśikhaścaiva tathāhaṃkārakārakaḥ | ajavaktro'ṣṭavaktraśca hayavaktro'rddhavaktrakaḥ
Il est Celui aux Deux Crêtes et Celui aux Trois Crêtes ; il est aussi le générateur de l’ahaṃkāra, le sentiment du « moi ». Il est Celui au visage de bouc et Celui aux huit visages ; Celui au visage de cheval et Celui au demi-visage également.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, listing Shiva’s manifold battle-forms)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse emphasizes Shiva’s limitless Saguna manifestations, showing that all forms and powers—including the arising of ego (ahaṃkāra) within creation—operate under His sovereignty, and liberation comes by turning that ego back toward Shiva through devotion and insight.
Though Shiva appears with many faces and attributes, Linga-worship gathers these countless forms into a single, accessible focus; devotees honor the One Lord who can be worshipped both as the formless (Nirguṇa) and as the manifold (Saguṇa) described here.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the master of ahaṃkāra while repeating the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), offering water/bilva to the Linga and inwardly surrendering “I-ness” to Shiva—especially on Mahāśivarātri.