Shloka 70
देवस्तुतिः—नन्दिकेश्वरविज्ञप्तिः—शम्भोः समाधेः उत्थानम्
Devas’ Hymn, Nandikeśvara’s Petition, and Śiva’s Rising from Samādhi
विषं पीतं सुरार्थं हि भक्तवत्सलभावधृक् । देवकष्टं हृतं यत्नात्सर्वदैव मया सुराः
viṣaṃ pītaṃ surārthaṃ hi bhaktavatsalabhāvadhṛk | devakaṣṭaṃ hṛtaṃ yatnātsarvadaiva mayā surāḥ
Demi kepentingan para Deva Aku meminum racun, sebab Aku berwatak penuh kasih kepada para bhakta. Wahai para dewa, dengan upaya sungguh-sungguh Aku senantiasa melenyapkan deritamu.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Sthala Purana: Allusion to samudra-manthana: Śiva drinks hālāhala to save the devas, becoming Nīlakaṇṭha. Though not a Jyotirliṅga origin here, it functions as a pan-Śaiva ‘sthala’ of cosmic rescue remembered in many temples named Nīlakaṇṭheśvara.
Significance: Promises protection and alleviation of ‘deva-kaṣṭa’ (cosmic/collective distress); devotees approach Śiva as the one who absorbs poison—symbolically taking on devotees’ pāpa/kleśa.
Type: rudram
Role: nurturing
Offering: dhupa
Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana; emergence of hālāhala poison (mythic cosmic crisis).
FAQs
It presents Shiva as the compassionate Pati who voluntarily bears poison and suffering to protect the worlds—teaching that divine grace and self-offering remove fear and distress for those who take refuge in him.
The verse points to Saguna Shiva as Neelakantha—the protector who intervenes in cosmic crises; Linga-worship becomes a direct way to approach this saving grace and steadfast guardianship.
Meditate on Neelakantha Shiva while japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offer water/bilva to the Linga with the intent of seeking protection and inner purification from ‘poisons’ like anger, pride, and attachment.