Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10
हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings
स तेपे मंदरद्रोण्यां तपः परमदारुणम् । ऊर्द्ध्वबाहुर्नभोदृष्टिः षादांगुष्ठाश्रितावनिः
sa tepe maṃdaradroṇyāṃ tapaḥ paramadāruṇam | ūrddhvabāhurnabhodṛṣṭiḥ ṣādāṃguṣṭhāśritāvaniḥ
മന്ദര ദ്രോണിയിൽ അവൻ അത്യന്തം ദാരുണമായ തപസ്സ് ചെയ്തു—കൈകൾ മേലോട്ടുയർത്തി, ദൃഷ്ടി ആകാശത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരപ്പെടുത്തി, ആറു പെരുവിരലുകളുടെ ആശ്രയത്തിൽ മാത്രം ഭൂമിയിൽ നിലകൊണ്ട്—ശിവകൃപയ്ക്കായി അചഞ്ചല തപോനിഷ്ഠയിൽ നിന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Mandara-droṇī is presented as a tapas-kṣetra where severe austerity compels divine attention; the narrative functions like a generic sthala motif: intense tapas draws Mahādeva’s darśana/boon.
Significance: Tapas-sthāna paradigm: visiting/remembering such sites valorizes restraint and devotion, oriented toward Śiva’s anugraha rather than mere siddhi.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights tapas as disciplined self-offering: the devotee restrains body and mind to purify karma and become fit for Shiva’s anugraha (grace), through which bondage (pāśa) is loosened and liberation becomes possible.
Such austerity is a preparatory means for Saguna Shiva-upāsanā—seeking the Lord’s manifest compassion and guidance—after which the devotee becomes qualified for deeper contemplation of Shiva’s supreme reality beyond form.
It suggests steady, vow-based practice: firm posture, one-pointed upward contemplation, and endurance. In Shaiva practice this is commonly paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and observances like bhasma-dhāraṇa and Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa, according to one’s capacity.