Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25
अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka
Genealogy and Nature
महेश उवाच । शृण्वंबिके ह्यद्भुतवृत्तकारे उत्पन्न एषोऽद्भुतचण्डवीर्यः । निमीलिते चक्षुषि मे भवत्या स स्वेदजो मेंधकनामधेयः
maheśa uvāca | śṛṇvaṃbike hyadbhutavṛttakāre utpanna eṣo'dbhutacaṇḍavīryaḥ | nimīlite cakṣuṣi me bhavatyā sa svedajo meṃdhakanāmadheyaḥ
マヘーシャは言った。「聞け、アンビカーよ、驚くべき転変をもたらす者よ。この者が生じた――不思議にして、力は猛々しい。汝がわが眼を閉ざさせたとき、彼はわが汗より生まれた。その名はメーンドハカ（Meṇḍhaka）である。」
Lord Shiva (Mahesha)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Ambikā
Role: creative
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva’s supreme lordship (Pati-tattva): beings can manifest through His will in astonishing ways, showing that creation and protection operate under His conscious sovereignty, not mere material causality.
It supports Saguna Shiva devotion by portraying Mahesha as personally present and active in līlā—speaking to Ambikā and revealing the origin and name of a manifested being—encouraging devotees to approach Shiva as the compassionate, responsive Lord worshiped in the Linga.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate remembrance (smaraṇa) of Shiva’s all-governing presence during japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—seeing all events as held within His śakti and guided toward dharma and liberation.