Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्
Search for Kārttikeya and the Nandī Dialogue
जलमुवाच । अमुं रुदंतमानीय स्तन्यपानेन ताः प्रभो । वर्द्धयामासुरीशस्य सुतं तव रविप्रभम्
jalamuvāca | amuṃ rudaṃtamānīya stanyapānena tāḥ prabho | varddhayāmāsurīśasya sutaṃ tava raviprabham
ജലൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ പ്രഭോ! കരയുന്ന ആ ബാലനെ കൊണ്ടുവന്ന്, ആ മാതാക്കൾ സ്തന്യപാനത്താൽ അവനെ പോഷിപ്പിച്ചു; ഇങ്ങനെ ഈശന്റെ (ശിവന്റെ) പുത്രനായ, സൂര്യപ്രഭപോലെ ദീപ്തനായ നിന്റെ പുത്രനെ വളർത്തി।
Jala
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it emphasizes the nurturing (poshana) of Śiva’s son by the Kṛttikās through nursing—an image of cosmic sustenance.
Significance: Frames divine motherhood and caretaking as sacred service; supports bhakti through the motif of devas participating in Śiva’s līlā and the child’s protection.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: Sustenance of the divine child; ‘ravi-prabha’ imagery links to solar tejas
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva’s grace manifesting in family and caretaking: the divine child is protected and nourished through devoted service, showing that bhakti expressed as selfless care becomes a vehicle for Śiva’s providence in the world.
By calling the child “Īśa’s son,” the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva with attributes and līlā—whose divinity is approachable through sacred relationships and stories, complementing Linga-worship by giving devotees a personal, devotional focus.
The takeaway is sevā-bhāva (devotional service): nurturing, protecting, and serving as worship. Practically, one may pair such service with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as an inner offering to Īśa.