Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44
अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces
कंठे गृहीत्वा तु गुहां प्रविष्टो रमासहस्राणि विसर्जितानि । गौरी च सन्मानशतैः प्रपूज्य गुहामुखे वीरकमेव स्थापयन्
kaṃṭhe gṛhītvā tu guhāṃ praviṣṭo ramāsahasrāṇi visarjitāni | gaurī ca sanmānaśataiḥ prapūjya guhāmukhe vīrakameva sthāpayan
Sambil mencekiknya, ia memasuki gua dan menanggalkan ribuan harta. Lalu, setelah memuja Dewi Gaurī dengan ratusan penghormatan, ia menempatkan Vīraka tepat di mulut gua sebagai penjaga.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights dharma in action: uncontrolled attachment to wealth is renounced, while due reverence is offered to Gaurī (Śakti). In Shaiva Siddhānta, honoring Śiva’s Śakti and restraining possessiveness supports inner purification (mala-kṣaya) and steadiness on the path.
Though the Liṅga is not named here, the verse reflects Saguna devotion through visible acts—offering honor to Gaurī and maintaining disciplined order (a guard at the entrance). Such outward reverence and right conduct are understood as supports to Liṅga-worship and temple-like sanctity (protecting what is sacred).
The takeaway is disciplined reverence: approach the divine with respect and self-restraint. Practically, one may pair Gaurī-Śiva worship with the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and cultivate vairāgya (non-attachment) toward riches, treating devotion and conduct as a single sādhana.