Shloka 45

Devanagari script

वामां रौद्रीं महामायां वैष्णवीं वारिजेक्षणाम् कलां विकिरिणीं चैव कालीं कमलवासिनीम्

Transliteration

vāmāṃ raudrīṃ mahāmāyāṃ vaiṣṇavīṃ vārijekṣaṇām kalāṃ vikiriṇīṃ caiva kālīṃ kamalavāsinīm

Translation

वामां रौद्रीं महामायां वैष्णवीं वारिजेक्षणाम् । कलां विकिरिणीं चैव कालीं कमलवासिनीम् ॥ एताः शक्तयः पतिना सह शिवेनाभिन्नाः ध्येयाः।

Word by Word

• वामाम् (vāmām): Vāmā, the leftward/auspicious Śakti

• रौद्रीम् (raudrīm): Raudrī, the fierce Rudra-power

• महामायाम् (mahāmāyām): Mahāmāyā, the great power of manifestation/veiling

• वैष्णवीम् (vaiṣṇavīm): Vaiṣṇavī, the Viṣṇu-energy (preserving power)

• वारिजेक्षणाम् (vārijekṣaṇām): lotus-eyed

• कलाम् (kalām): a digit/portion of divine power, a ray-like potency

• विकिरिणीम् (vikiriṇīm): scattering/emanating (rays, energies)

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• कालीम् (kālīm): Kālī, the dark/time-transcending Śakti

• कमलवासिनीम् (kamalavāsinīm): dwelling in the lotus (lotus-seated/lotus-abiding Goddess)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; within a hymn-like recitation)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Rudra
• Vishnu
• Kali

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It supplies contemplative names of Śakti to be invoked alongside the Liṅga, reinforcing that Liṅga-pūjā is worship of Pati (Śiva) together with His inseparable power (Śakti) that manifests, preserves, and dissolves.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By listing Raudrī, Mahāmāyā, Vaiṣṇavī, Kalā, and Kālī, the verse implies Śiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati whose one consciousness operates through multiple śaktis—veiling (māyā), radiance (kalā), preservation (vaiṣṇavī), and dissolution/time (kālī).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Name-recitation (nāma-japa) and dhyāna: during Liṅga-pūjā or Pāśupata-oriented meditation, the sādhaka contemplates these śaktis as energies binding or liberating the paśu, and offers worship to their source, Śiva.