Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः
Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation
अथ कालेन महता तस्मिञ्छास्त्रे तिरोहिते । भर्तारं परिपप्रच्छ तदंकस्था महेश्वरी
atha kālena mahatā tasmiñchāstre tirohite | bhartāraṃ paripapraccha tadaṃkasthā maheśvarī
പിന്നീട് ദീർഘകാലം കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ ആ ശാസ്ത്രോപദേശം മറഞ്ഞുപോയി; അപ്പോൾ ഭർത്താവിന്റെ മടിയിൽ ഇരുന്ന മഹേശ്വരി ഭക്തിപൂർവ്വം ശിവനോട് വീണ്ടും ചോദിച്ചു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it narrates concealment (tirobhāva) of a śāstra over time, prompting Devī to request its re-articulation—mirroring cycles of revelation and obscuration.
Significance: Highlights the need for renewed teaching when doctrine becomes ‘tirohita’; encourages seekers to approach the Lord (often through Devī’s intercession) for restoration of right knowledge.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Doctrinal tirodhāna: the śāstra becomes hidden with the passage of time (kāla), a microcosmic analogue of Śiva’s concealing function.
FAQs
It highlights that divine knowledge can become concealed over time, and that sincere inquiry—especially in the intimate Guru-disciple spirit between Śiva and Pārvatī—revives the path to liberation (moksha) under Pati’s grace.
Pārvatī’s questioning of her Lord underscores Saguna Śiva as the compassionate teacher who makes subtle truth accessible; devotion to Śiva (including Linga-worship) is sustained through listening, remembering, and re-asking the teachings when they fade from living tradition.
The verse implies śravaṇa and manana—hearing and reflecting on Śiva’s teachings—along with renewed japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) when spiritual understanding becomes obscured.