Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37
विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्
Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वामंत्र्य तं व्यासं तन्नुतो मद्वरात्मजः । ययौ विहायसा काशीं चरितं शशिमौलिनः
brahmovāca | ityuktvāmaṃtrya taṃ vyāsaṃ tannuto madvarātmajaḥ | yayau vihāyasā kāśīṃ caritaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ
ബ്രഹ്മാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞ്, ആ വ്യാസനുമായി ആലോചിച്ച്, അദ്ദേഹാൽ പ്രശംസിക്കപ്പെട്ട എന്റെ ശ്രേഷ്ഠപുത്രൻ ആകാശമാർഗ്ഗം കാശിയിലേക്കു പോയി; ശശിമൗളിയായ ശിവന്റെ ദിവ്യചരിതം അതിനെ പാവനമാക്കുന്നു.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
FAQs
The verse highlights Kāśī as a liberation-oriented sacred space (mokṣa-kṣetra) because it is permeated by Śiva’s divine presence and deeds; in Shaiva Siddhānta, such sanctity supports devotion (bhakti) and grace (anugraha) leading toward release from bondage.
By calling Śiva “Śaśimauli” (the Moon-crested Lord), the verse points to Saguna Śiva—worshiped with form and attributes—whose presence is especially celebrated in Kāśī through temples and Liṅga worship, where devotees seek purification and Śiva’s saving grace.
A practical takeaway is pilgrimage with remembrance: visit Kāśī (or mentally contemplate it), worship Śiva in a Liṅga shrine with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and maintain steady bhakti—seeing the tīrtha as a support for inner purification and liberation.