Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 32
अर्धनारीश्वरप्रादुर्भावः
Manifestation of Ardhanārīśvara and the Impulse for Procreative Creation
विज्ञाप्यैवंविधैः सूक्तैर्विश्वकर्मा चतुर्मुखः । नमश्चकार रुद्राय रद्राण्यै च मुहुर्मुहुः
vijñāpyaivaṃvidhaiḥ sūktairviśvakarmā caturmukhaḥ | namaścakāra rudrāya radrāṇyai ca muhurmuhuḥ
Ayant ainsi exposé sa requête par des hymnes de cette sorte, Viśvakarmā—Brahmā, le Créateur aux quatre visages—se prosterna maintes et maintes fois avec révérence devant Rudra (Śiva) et devant Rudrāṇī (Pārvatī), les reconnaissant comme le Seigneur suprême et Sa śakti qui accorde la grâce.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Narrative frame: Brahmā (caturmukha) repeatedly bows to Rudra and Rudrāṇī after petitioning—emphasizing Śiva-Śakti supremacy over the creator-god; not a jyotirliṅga origin episode.
Significance: Teaches that even Brahmā approaches Śiva-Śakti through namaskāra and stuti; pilgrims emulate this by repeated prostration (praṇāma) seeking anugraha.
Mantra: namaḥ rudrāya rudrāṇyai
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): even exalted beings like Brahmā approach Śiva and Śakti with humble, repeated namaskāra, implying that grace—not mere status—opens the way to auspicious outcomes and liberation.
The verse models Saguna devotion—bowing to Rudra and Rudrāṇī as the accessible Lord and His power. In Linga-worship, the same attitude of reverent submission (namaḥ) is central, treating the Linga as the compassionate presence of Śiva.
Repeated namaskāra and japa in a devotional mood—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed with awareness of Śiva-Śakti unity, as a simple daily practice of humility and remembrance.