Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)
कपर्द्देन विराजन्तं त्रिशूलाजगवायुधम् । स्फुरत्कर्पूरगौरांगं परिणद्ध गजाजिनम्
kaparddena virājantaṃ triśūlājagavāyudham | sphuratkarpūragaurāṃgaṃ pariṇaddha gajājinam
Baginda bersinar megah dengan rambut gimbal yang berpilin, memegang trisula dan ular sebagai senjata-Nya. Tubuh-Nya berkilau putih suci laksana kapur barus, dan Baginda berikatkan kulit gajah—demikianlah terlihat rupa saguṇa Śiva, Tuhan Yang Pengasih, penganugeraha mokṣa kepada jiwa-jiwa yang terbelenggu.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
The verse presents Śiva’s Saguna dhyāna—His visible, attribute-bearing form—so the devotee’s mind can rest on the Lord (Pati) who alone cuts the bonds (pāśa) and leads the soul (paśu) to liberation.
While the Liṅga is the aniconic sign of Śiva’s limitless reality, this verse supports Saguna upāsanā by describing His iconographic marks (jaṭā, triśūla, serpent, radiant body), enabling focused meditation that culminates in Liṅga-centered realization.
Practice Śiva-dhyāna by visualizing Him with jaṭā, triśūla, and serpent while softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; this is especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri vrata and daily japa.