Shloka 54
Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः
Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time
अहोरात्रविभागानाम् अहश्चादिः प्रकीर्तितः मुहूर्तानां तथैवादिर् मुहूर्तो रुद्रदैवतः
ahorātravibhāgānām ahaścādiḥ prakīrtitaḥ muhūrtānāṃ tathaivādir muhūrto rudradaivataḥ
അഹോരാത്ര വിഭജനങ്ങളിൽ ‘അഹഃ’ (പകൽ) ആദ്യം എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു. അതുപോലെ മുഹൂർത്തങ്ങളിൽ ആദ്യ മുഹൂർത്തത്തിന്റെ അധിദേവത രുദ്രനാണ്।
Suta Goswami
FAQs
It sacralizes time itself: the first muhūrta is Rudra-governed, implying that Shiva’s presence presides over auspicious beginnings—supporting the practice of commencing Linga-puja and daily rites with Rudra-smaraṇa.
By assigning Rudra as the devatā of the primal muhūrta, the verse presents Shiva as Pati who orders and empowers kala (time), indicating His lordship over the rhythms that bind pashus under pasha and His capacity to turn time into a means of liberation when approached through worship.
Choosing an auspicious beginning for sādhana: starting japa, dhyāna, or Linga-abhisheka at the day’s first muhūrta with Rudra as devatā—aligning Pashupata-oriented discipline with sanctified time.