Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka
Genealogy and Nature
गायन्हसन्प्ररुदन्नृत्यमानो विलेलिहानो घरघोरघोषः । जातेन तेनाद्भुतदर्शनेन गौरीं भवोऽसौ स्मितपूर्वमाह
gāyanhasanprarudannṛtyamāno vilelihāno gharaghoraghoṣaḥ | jātena tenādbhutadarśanena gaurīṃ bhavo'sau smitapūrvamāha
Sambil menyanyi, ketawa, lalu menangis, dia terus menari—menjilat bibir dan mengaum dengan bunyi dahsyat bagaikan guruh. Melihat pemandangan yang menghairankan itu, Dewa Bhava (Śiva) terlebih dahulu tersenyum, kemudian bertitah kepada Gaurī (Pārvatī).
Suta Goswami (narrating the events; the verse sets up Shiva speaking to Parvati)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights how awe, fear, and wonder can arise before powerful manifestations, yet Śiva remains the calm, compassionate Lord (Pati) who responds with a smile—guiding the devotee (Pāśu) from emotional turbulence toward insight and steadiness.
It reflects Saguna Śiva—who appears with dynamic, even terrifying energies—yet is inwardly benevolent and self-mastered. In Linga worship, devotees approach the same Lord through a stable, accessible form, learning to see the compassionate reality behind intense appearances.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) when confronted by fear or agitation, remembering Śiva’s smile as assurance; this aligns with bhakti-centered concentration rather than reacting to outer spectacle.