Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35
मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence
Tapas-abode
स्वात्मारामस्य भवतो रतिर्न सुखसाधनम् । इति हेतोः स्मरो यस्मात्प्रसभं भस्मसात्कृतः
svātmārāmasya bhavato ratirna sukhasādhanam | iti hetoḥ smaro yasmātprasabhaṃ bhasmasātkṛtaḥ
സ്വാത്മാനന്ദത്തിൽ രമിക്കുന്ന നിനക്കു രതി സുഖസാധനം അല്ല; അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ സ്മരൻ (കാമദേവൻ) നിനാൽ ബലമായി ഭസ്മീകരിക്കപ്പെട്ടു।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse in the Vayu Samhita context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Alludes to the Kāma-dahana episode: Kāma attempts to disturb Śiva’s tapas; Śiva’s third eye burns him to ashes, restoring cosmic order and demonstrating Śiva’s transcendence of binding desire.
Significance: Meditation on Kāma-dahana is taken as a teaching on vairāgya and mastery of senses; inspires inner restraint and devotion to Śiva as the giver of liberation.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva, as Svātmārāma (Self-established bliss), is beyond desire; true sukha arises from inner realization and grace, not from rati, pointing the soul toward vairāgya and moksha.
In Linga worship, devotees approach Saguna Shiva as the purifier of passions; meditating on Shiva’s burning of Kāma symbolizes the dissolution of pasha (bondage) so the devotee may abide in Shiva-consciousness.
Practice desire-control through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Shiva as inner Self; cultivate vairāgya, and if following Shaiva ritual, wear Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of burning impurities.