Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14
अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः
Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle
स च वैष्णवमस्त्रं च चिक्षेप चंडिकोपरि । माहेश्वरेण काली च विनिवारं चकार सा
sa ca vaiṣṇavamastraṃ ca cikṣepa caṃḍikopari | māheśvareṇa kālī ca vinivāraṃ cakāra sā
તેણે ચંડિકા પર વૈષ્ણવ અસ્ત્ર પ્રયોગ કર્યો. કાળીએ માહેશ્વર શક્તિથી તેને અટકાવી નિષ્પ્રભ કરી દીધું.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā
Role: protective
FAQs
It illustrates the Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis that all powers operate under Pati (Śiva): even formidable divine forces are ultimately checked by Māheśvara-śakti, pointing to Śiva’s sovereign governance over cosmic energies.
The Māheśvara power that subdues the missile reflects Saguna Śiva’s protective rulership (anugraha and nigraha). In Linga-worship, devotees approach this same Lord as the stable center through which all śaktis are harmonized and brought to auspicious order.
A practical takeaway is to seek protection and steadiness through Śiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—cultivating inner restraint (vinivāra) against disruptive forces.