Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2
वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च
Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn
त्रस्तांस्तान्समरे वीरान् देवानन्यांश्च वै गणाः । प्रमथाः परमक्रुद्धा वीरभद्रप्रणोदिताः
trastāṃstānsamare vīrān devānanyāṃśca vai gaṇāḥ | pramathāḥ paramakruddhā vīrabhadrapraṇoditāḥ
Dalam pertempuran itu, para Gaṇa—yakni kaum Pramatha—berang dengan amat dahsyat, didorong oleh Vīrabhadra, lalu menyerbu para pahlawan itu: para dewa yang ketakutan dan yang lain-lain juga.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
It depicts how the Devas, though powerful, become fearful when separated from alignment with Pati (Shiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta, true security is not mere celestial status but refuge in Shiva, who governs dharma and dissolves ego-driven disorder.
Vīrabhadra and the Gaṇas represent Saguna Shiva’s active, protective power (anugraha and nigraha). Linga-worship trains the mind to recognize Shiva as the inner Lord who restores cosmic order when ritual becomes prideful or hypocritical.
A practical takeaway is fear-transcending japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, cultivating surrender and steadiness so anger and fear do not rule the mind.