Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode
Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall
त्रिदेवजनकस्सोत्र त्रिगुणात्मा च निर्गुणः । भक्तेच्छया च सगुणो हरिब्रह्मप्रवर्तकः
tridevajanakassotra triguṇātmā ca nirguṇaḥ | bhaktecchayā ca saguṇo haribrahmapravartakaḥ
ஓ ஸ்தோத்திரமே! அவரே மும்மூர்த்திகளின் தந்தை; முக்குணங்களின் சாரமாயிருந்தும் நிர்குணன். பக்தரின் விருப்பத்தால் சகுணனாய், ஹரி மற்றும் பிரம்மாவைச் செயல்படச் செய்பவன்.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva is both transcendent (nirguṇa) and immanent (the ground of the guṇas), and that His grace responds to bhakti—revealing a worshipable, approachable form without losing His supreme transcendence.
The verse supports saguna worship (such as the Śiva-liṅga) as a compassionate self-manifestation of the nirguṇa Lord, assumed by Shiva for the devotee’s sake so devotion can mature into liberation.
Cultivate bhakti through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and focused meditation on Shiva’s saguna form (e.g., liṅga-dhyāna), understanding it as the doorway to realizing the nirguṇa reality.