Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship
तावत्पारिषदाः प्राप्ताः किंकि णीजालमालिनः । दिव्यं विमानमादाय तं नेतुं शूलपाणयः
tāvatpāriṣadāḥ prāptāḥ kiṃki ṇījālamālinaḥ | divyaṃ vimānamādāya taṃ netuṃ śūlapāṇayaḥ
तावत् शूलपाणयः पारिषदाः समुपागताः। किंकिणीजालमालिनो दिव्यं विमानमादाय तं नेतुं तत्पराः॥
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga; it illustrates Śiva’s protective sovereignty overriding punitive transit when devotion/dharma warrants grace.
Significance: Assurance (abhaya): Śiva’s gaṇas as agents of anugraha; inspires refuge in Śiva and confidence in his rakṣaṇa.
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Intervention event: Śiva’s retinue arrives with a divine vimāna, signaling a shift from karmic compulsion to grace-led transit.
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva’s gracious governance of the cosmos through His gaṇas: the Lord’s compassionate will operates via divine attendants who guide beings according to karma and grace, ultimately pointing toward protection and liberation under Pati (Śiva).
The imagery of Śiva’s parishadas and the divine vimāna reflects Saguna Śiva—His accessible, personal form—through which devotees relate to His power (śūla), protection, and guidance; such devotion culminates in steadiness in Linga-worship as the symbol of the Supreme Pati.
A practical takeaway is remembrance of Śiva as the guiding Lord through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while visualizing His protective gaṇas removing obstacles; this supports bhakti and inner surrender rather than a specific external rite in this verse.