Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36
बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle
चित्रलेखोवाच । त्वया स्वप्ने च यो दृष्टः पुरुषो देवि तं कथम् । अहं संमानयिष्यामि न विज्ञातस्तु यो मम
citralekhovāca | tvayā svapne ca yo dṛṣṭaḥ puruṣo devi taṃ katham | ahaṃ saṃmānayiṣyāmi na vijñātastu yo mama
Citralekhā berkata: “Wahai Dewi, lelaki yang engkau lihat dalam mimpi itu—bagaimanakah aku hendak memuliakannya, sedangkan dia tidak kukenali?”
Citralekhā
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights discernment (viveka) in devotion: reverence should be grounded in clear recognition and right understanding, not merely in dream-impressions—an attitude aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on proper knowledge (jñāna) supporting bhakti.
It indirectly supports Saguna worship by implying that honoring the Divine (or the divinely connected beloved) requires a recognizable form, name, or mark—just as the Liṅga and Shiva’s iconography provide a stable focus for devotion and ritual respect.
A practical takeaway is to pair inner experience (dream/feeling) with outer discipline: steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and regular worship with clear intention, rather than acting impulsively on uncertain visions.