Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63
शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”
तव सेव्यो विधेश्चापि रुद्र एव भविष्यति । शिवपूर्णावतारो हि त्रिजगल्लयकारकः
tava sevyo vidheścāpi rudra eva bhaviṣyati | śivapūrṇāvatāro hi trijagallayakārakaḥ
നീ ആരാധിക്കുന്നവനും, വിധാതാവായ ബ്രഹ്മാവും പൂജിക്കുന്നവനും അവൻ തന്നേ നിശ്ചയമായി രുദ്രനാകും. അവൻ ശിവന്റെ പൂർണ്ണാവതാരം; ത്രിജഗത്തിന്റെ ലയകാരകൻ.
Brahmā (Vidheḥ) speaking within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narrative context
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it identifies Rudra as Śiva’s pūrṇāvatāra for the function of laya (dissolution), and establishes Rudra’s worship-worthiness even for Brahmā—reinforcing Śiva’s supremacy and Rudra’s delegated cosmic role.
Significance: Doctrinal benefit: directs the devotee toward Rudra/Śiva as the liberative power that ends cosmic cycles and, analogically, ends bondage (pāśa) through anugraha.
Role: destructive
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: pralaya/laya of the three worlds (trijagat)
FAQs
It establishes Rudra as Śiva’s pūrṇa-avatāra and teaches that even Brahmā, the cosmic ordainer, depends upon Śiva—Pati, the supreme Lord—who withdraws the three worlds at dissolution, guiding souls toward liberation.
By identifying Rudra as Śiva’s complete manifestation, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: worship of Śiva in manifest form (including Liṅga worship) as the accessible Lord who governs cosmic functions, especially laya, while remaining the supreme reality.
A practical takeaway is to perform Śiva upāsanā with the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Śiva as Rudra—the dissolver of bondage (pāśa)—and offering reverence with purity (e.g., Tripuṇḍra bhasma and steady japa) as devotion permits.