Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21
अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka
Genealogy and Nature
श्रीमहेश उवाच । निमील्य नेत्राणि कृतं च कर्म बिभेषि साऽस्माद्दयिते कथं त्वम् । गौरी हरात्तद्वचनं निशम्य विहस्यमाना प्रमुमोच नेत्रे
śrīmaheśa uvāca | nimīlya netrāṇi kṛtaṃ ca karma bibheṣi sā'smāddayite kathaṃ tvam | gaurī harāttadvacanaṃ niśamya vihasyamānā pramumoca netre
શ્રીમહેશ બોલ્યા—પ્રિયે, આંખો મીંચીને તે કર્મ કરી હવે તું મારાથી કેમ ડરે છે? હરનાં વચન સાંભળી ગૌરી હસતાં હસતાં આંખો ખોલી।
Lord Shiva (Śrī Maheśa/Hara)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva as the compassionate Lord who dissolves fear in the devotee; even when a deed leads to anxiety, turning to Hara reveals his protective, grace-filled nature and restores inner steadiness.
It supports Saguna Shiva-bhakti: the devotee relates to Shiva personally as Hara—one who responds, reassures, and grants refuge—mirroring how devotees approach the Śiva-liṅga as a living presence of protection and grace.
A practical takeaway is fear-removing japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with steady breath and inward focus (eyes gently closed), followed by opening the eyes with remembrance that Shiva is the protector.