Shloka 22

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

दिव्यवर्षसहस्रं तु वायुभक्षाः समाचरन् तिष्ठन्तो ऽनुग्रहार्थाय देवि ते ऋषयः पुरा

Transliteration

divyavarṣasahasraṃ tu vāyubhakṣāḥ samācaran tiṣṭhanto 'nugrahārthāya devi te ṛṣayaḥ purā

Translation

தேவி! முற்காலத்தில் அந்த முனிவர்கள் ஆயிரம் தெய்வ ஆண்டுகள் வரை காற்றையே உணவாகக் கொண்டு, அருளைப் பெறுவதற்காக உறுதியாக நிலைத்திருந்தனர்।

Word by Word

• दिव्य-वर्ष-सहस्रम्: a thousand divine years

• तु: indeed

• वायु-भक्षाः: those who subsist on air (vāyubhakṣa)

• समाचरन्: they practiced/undertook

• तिष्ठन्तः: remaining steadfast/standing firm

• अनुग्रह-अर्थाय: for the sake of grace/favor

• देवि: O Goddess

• ते: your/your own

• ऋषयः: sages/seers

• पुरा: formerly/in ancient times

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating; internal address to Devī in the cited line)

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It frames spiritual attainment as anugraha-centered: intense tapas (here, vāyubhakṣa discipline) is performed to receive divine grace, the same principle that empowers Linga-pūjā to remove pāśa (bondage) and purify the paśu (individual soul).

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as Pati—the sovereign bestower of anugraha. Liberation is not merely self-effort; it culminates in the Lord’s gracious turning toward the seeker, loosening bondage through His free, compassionate power.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A severe tapas aligned with Pāśupata-yoga ethos—vāyubhakṣa (subsisting on air), steadiness, and single-pointed intention for anugraha—highlighting disciplined renunciation as preparation for Shaiva realization.