Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)
महावीरं च सौरं च कालकालं महानलम् । महेश्वरास्त्रं याम्यं च दंडं संमोहनं तथा
mahāvīraṃ ca sauraṃ ca kālakālaṃ mahānalam | maheśvarāstraṃ yāmyaṃ ca daṃḍaṃ saṃmohanaṃ tathā
ત્યારે તેણે મહાવીર અને સૌર (સૂર્ય) અસ્ત્ર, કાલકાલ (મૃત્યુનો પણ મૃત્યુ) તથા પ્રજ્વલિત મહાનલ; તેમજ મહેશ્વરાસ્ત્ર, યામ્ય, દંડ અને સંમોહન અસ્ત્ર પણ પ્રયોગમાં મૂક્યાં।
Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Kālāntaka
FAQs
The verse lists astric powers culminating in the Maheśvara-astra, pointing to the Shaiva teaching that all cosmic forces—sun, fire, death/time, punishment, and even delusion—operate under the sovereignty of Pati (Lord Śiva), who alone can restrain bondage and restore order.
These named weapons symbolize Saguna Śiva’s active lordship in the world: the same Maheśvara who is worshipped as the Liṅga manifests protective and corrective powers to subdue adharma, demonstrating that Liṅga-worship is not merely symbolic but devotion to the living governor of all śaktis.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa, meditating on Śiva as Kāla-kāla (the One who transcends time and fear), thereby overcoming inner saṃmoha (delusion).