Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
ततः स्वमंकमारोप्य देवीं देववरोरहः । अलंकृत्य च तैः पुष्पैरास्ते हृष्टतरः स्वयम् । अथांतःपुरचारिण्यो देव्यो दिव्यविभूषणाः । अंतरंगा गणेन्द्राश्च सर्वलोकमहेश्वरीम्
tataḥ svamaṃkamāropya devīṃ devavarorahaḥ | alaṃkṛtya ca taiḥ puṣpairāste hṛṣṭataraḥ svayam | athāṃtaḥpuracāriṇyo devyo divyavibhūṣaṇāḥ | aṃtaraṃgā gaṇendrāśca sarvalokamaheśvarīm
Alors le Seigneur suprême, le meilleur des dieux, plaça la Déesse sur ses propres genoux. L’ornant de ces fleurs, il demeura assis là, plus réjoui encore. Puis les déesses qui circulaient dans l’enceinte intérieure du palais, parées d’ornements divins, ainsi que les chefs intimes des Gaṇas s’avancèrent pour servir la Souveraine de tous les mondes.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It portrays Śiva with Devī in a tender, royal intimacy, teaching that the Supreme (Pati) is never separated from His Śakti; their union is the source of auspiciousness, order, and grace for the worlds, and devotion to them ripens the soul toward liberation.
While the Liṅga points to the transcendental (nirguṇa) reality, this scene highlights saguna worship—Śiva as the personal Lord who joyfully honors Devī—encouraging devotees to approach the Liṅga with loving bhakti and reverence for Śakti as inseparable from Śiva.
Offer flowers with the भावना (inner devotion) of adorning Śiva and Devī together; meditate on Ardhanārīśvara-bhāva (their inseparability) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking Śiva’s grace through humble attendance (sevā).