Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58
तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode
Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall
ततश्चांतर्हितो भूत्वा मोदयित्वा हरिं च ताम् । जगाम् स्वालयं शंभुः शर्मदो हि सदा सताम्
tataścāṃtarhito bhūtvā modayitvā hariṃ ca tām | jagām svālayaṃ śaṃbhuḥ śarmado hi sadā satām
ततः अन्तर्हितो भूत्वा हरिं च तां च मोदयित्वा, शम्भुः स्वालयं जगाम; सदा सतां शर्मदः।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadashiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga origin; it depicts Śiva’s antarhāna (becoming invisible) after bestowing joy/peace—anugraha followed by withdrawal, a common Purāṇic motif of divine presence that is not bound to visibility.
Significance: Highlights Śiva as śarmada (giver of peace) to sat (the virtuous). In Siddhānta terms, this is anugraha: Śiva benefits beings (including Hari) and then remains transcendent, not graspable by the senses.
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: antarhāna (divine withdrawal/invisibility) as a theological motif akin to tirodhāna following anugraha
FAQs
It portrays Śiva as śarmadaḥ—He who grants śarma (inner peace and auspicious well-being) to satām (the devoted and righteous). His becoming “antarhita” signifies the Lord’s freedom to manifest or withdraw while remaining the inner support of all.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s personal, compassionate action—He consoles and blesses (modayitvā) and then withdraws. In Liṅga worship, devotees similarly approach the manifest form for grace, while recognizing the Lord’s transcendent, unseen presence beyond form.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate śarma through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady remembrance: seeing the Lord as both near (grace-giving) and subtle (antarhita), present even when unseen.