Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23
कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara
इत्यात्मनः परं भावं स्मारयित्वानुरूपतः । ब्रह्मणाभ्यर्थिता गौरी तपसो ऽपि न्यवर्तत
ityātmanaḥ paraṃ bhāvaṃ smārayitvānurūpataḥ | brahmaṇābhyarthitā gaurī tapaso 'pi nyavartata
ഇങ്ങനെ തന്റെ പരമ ആത്മീയഭാവം യഥോചിതമായി സ്മരിച്ച്, ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെ അപേക്ഷയാൽ ഗൗരി തപസ്സിൽ നിന്നുപോലും വിരമിച്ചു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights that true tapas is guided by higher bhāva (spiritual maturity): when divine counsel aligns with dharma, even intense austerity can be relinquished without loss, showing mastery over piety rather than attachment to it.
Gaurī’s inner recollection of the ‘higher state’ points to devotion that is not merely external effort but aligned intention—an essential principle in Saguna Shiva worship, where ritual and devotion are fruitful when matched with purified bhāva.
The takeaway is bhāva-śuddhi with disciplined practice: continue japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditation, but remain flexible—let guidance from guru/śāstra and dharma determine when to intensify or pause austerities.