Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
वैवाहिकानुष्ठानसमापनं दानप्रशंसा च / Completion of Wedding Rites and Praise of Gifts
Dāna
शिवाशिरसि सिन्दूरं ददौ शम्भुर्द्विजाज्ञया । तदानीं गिरिजाभिख्याद्भुतावर्ण्या बभूव ह
śivāśirasi sindūraṃ dadau śambhurdvijājñayā | tadānīṃ girijābhikhyādbhutāvarṇyā babhūva ha
Atas perintah sang brāhmaṇa, Śambhu meletakkan sindūra (serbuk merah suci) pada kepala Śivā. Pada saat itu juga, Girijā menjadi bercahaya menakjubkan, keelokannya melampaui segala ungkapan.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It presents Śiva and Śivā (Pārvatī) as the inseparable divine couple, where an outward auspicious act (sindūra) reflects inner śakti-prakāśa—her manifest radiance—signifying the sanctification of conjugal dharma and grace within Śaiva devotion.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śambhu acting in a personal, relational form—showing that devotion to the personal Lord naturally includes reverence for Śakti. In Linga-worship too, Śiva is honored along with His power (Śivā/Umā), the dynamic aspect through which grace is experienced.
It points to honoring auspicious markers with devotion and purity under proper guidance (ācāra). As a takeaway for practice: worship Śiva with bhakti and disciplined conduct, and pair external ritual (pūjā, tilaka/bhasma as appropriate) with inward remembrance of Śiva-Śakti through mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya).