Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 65
राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading
Cause and Background
प्रविष्टे नगरीं दैत्ये देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः । सुवर्णाद्रिगुहां प्राप्ता न्यवसन्दैत्यतापिताः
praviṣṭe nagarīṃ daitye devāḥ śakrapurogamāḥ | suvarṇādriguhāṃ prāptā nyavasandaityatāpitāḥ
દૈત્ય નગરીમાં પ્રવેશતાં જ, શક્ર (ઇન્દ્ર)ના નેતૃત્વમાં દેવગણ દૈત્યના ઉપદ્રવથી પીડિત થઈ સુવર્ણ પર્વતની ગુફામાં પહોંચ્યા અને ત્યાં શરણ લઈને વસ્યા।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The devas’ flight to a mountain cave functions as a purāṇic ‘refuge motif’ (śaraṇāgati) that typically culminates in seeking Śiva’s protection; no specific jyotirliṅga is named here.
Significance: Allegorical: taking refuge (guhā) signifies inward withdrawal from māyā’s turmoil, preparing for grace (anugraha).
FAQs
It shows that even the Devas, when overpowered by adharma, must seek a higher refuge—implying that ultimate protection and restoration of order rests with Pati (Lord Shiva), beyond worldly power.
The Devas’ retreat highlights the need for a tangible refuge in crisis; in Shaiva practice, the Shiva-Linga functions as that accessible Saguna focus through which devotees approach the transcendent Nirguna Shiva for protection and grace.
In times of fear and instability, take śaraṇāgati through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady worship with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of Shiva’s protective sovereignty.