Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra
मायायेत्थं तु कवचं तस्माज्जग्राह वै हरिः । शङ्खचूडस्य रूपेण जगाम तुलसीं प्रति
māyāyetthaṃ tu kavacaṃ tasmājjagrāha vai hariḥ | śaṅkhacūḍasya rūpeṇa jagāma tulasīṃ prati
Demikianlah, melalui kuasa māyā, Hari (Viṣṇu) mengambil kavaca itu daripadanya; lalu dengan menyamar sebagai Śaṅkhacūḍa, baginda menuju kepada Tulasī. Dari sudut pandang Śaiva, hal ini memperlihatkan bahawa perlindungan duniawi (kavaca) dan bahkan muslihat ilahi pun bergerak dalam medan māyā, sedangkan kemenangan tertinggi akhirnya berada pada Śiva, Tuhan yang melampaui delusi.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shakti Form: Tārā
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights māyā as a cosmic instrument through which events unfold; even powerful protections like a kavaca are not absolute, and the narrative points to the supremacy of Śiva (Pati) beyond all coverings and stratagems.
The episode underscores dependence on the Supreme Lord rather than on external safeguards; Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship trains the devotee to seek refuge in Śiva’s grace, which transcends māyā and the shifting play of forms.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and steady bhakti, rather than relying only on protective rites as the final support.