Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्
Completion of the Nandā-vrata and Śiva’s Direct Appearance
तदा वाक्यस्यावसानमनवेक्ष्य वृषध्वजः । भव त्वं मम भार्येति प्राह तां भक्तवत्सलः
tadā vākyasyāvasānamanavekṣya vṛṣadhvajaḥ | bhava tvaṃ mama bhāryeti prāha tāṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ
そのとき、牡牛を旗印とするヴṛṣध्वज—すなわち聖なるシヴァは、彼女の言葉の終わりを待たず、信愛する者を慈しみて告げた。「わが妻となれ。」
Lord Shiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as Bhaktavatsala—moved by devotion rather than social convention—showing that divine grace responds swiftly when the soul turns toward the Lord with sincerity.
Vṛṣadhvaja here is Saguna Śiva, personally engaging with His devotee; Linga worship similarly approaches the same Lord through a concrete sacred form, emphasizing accessible grace and intimacy with the divine.
Cultivate bhakti with japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a direct way to invoke Śiva’s Bhaktavatsala grace, supported by simple Shaiva observances like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa when appropriate.