Shloka 23
गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा
Permission for Girijā’s Austerities
स्त्रीणां तपोवनगतिर्न श्रुता कामनार्थिनी । तस्मात्त्वं पुत्रि मा कार्षीस्तपोर्थं गमनं प्रति
strīṇāṃ tapovanagatirna śrutā kāmanārthinī | tasmāttvaṃ putri mā kārṣīstaporthaṃ gamanaṃ prati
स्त्रीणां तपोवनगतिर्न श्रुता कामनार्थिनी। तस्मात्त्वं पुत्रि मा कार्षीस्तपोर्थं गमनं प्रति॥
Himālaya (Parvatī’s father)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga narrative; it voices social convention: a desire-motivated maiden is ‘not heard of’ going to tapovana—setting up the contrast with Pārvatī’s supra-worldly intent.
Significance: Functions as a moral foil: tapas must be purified of kāmya-motives; true Śiva-oriented tapas culminates in anugraha.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It stresses that tapas must be undertaken with purified intention, not driven by restless desire; in Shaiva understanding, right motive prepares the soul (paśu) to approach Śiva (Pati) through disciplined dharma.
It frames devotion as inwardly regulated: rather than impulsive outward acts, one should cultivate steadiness and propriety before approaching Saguna Shiva in worship—making the heart fit for Linga-sevā and prayer.
The implied takeaway is restraint and sankalpa-śuddhi: begin with regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple, disciplined worship at home, instead of rashly seeking extreme austerities.