Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8
योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)
श्वेतश्श्वेतशिखश्चैव श्वेताश्वः श्वेतलोहितः । दुन्दुभिश्शतरूपश्च ऋचीकः केतुमांस्तथा
śvetaśśvetaśikhaścaiva śvetāśvaḥ śvetalohitaḥ | dundubhiśśatarūpaśca ṛcīkaḥ ketumāṃstathā
(Mereka ialah) Śveta, Śvetaśikha, Śvetāśva, Śvetalohita, Dundubhi, Śatarūpa, Ṛcīka, dan demikian juga Ketumān.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: This is a nominative catalogue of sages (disciples) beginning with Śveta; no site-specific Jyotirliṅga narrative is embedded here.
Significance: Serves as smaraṇa (remembrance) of the lineage-bearers of Śaiva yoga; recitation functions as a maṅgala-list (auspicious roll-call) for students of the tradition.
FAQs
This verse preserves a traditional list of sacred names associated with Shiva’s retinue or manifestations; remembering such names is a form of nāma-smaraṇa that steadies devotion toward Pati (Shiva) and supports the devotee’s movement from bondage (pāśa) toward grace (anugraha).
By enumerating names linked to Shiva’s manifest sphere (saguṇa), the text frames devotion as approaching the formless Lord through his recognizable forms, attendants, and epithets—an approach harmonized with Liṅga worship where the One is honored through a sacred sign and its associated divine presence.
A practical takeaway is nāma-japa or recitation: chant these names with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), optionally while applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and holding rudrākṣa, dedicating the remembrance to Shiva for purification and steadiness in worship.