Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

महादेवं विरूपाक्षं चन्द्रार्द्धकृतशेखरम् । अमृतं शाश्वतं स्थाणुं नीलकंठं पिनाकिनम्

Transliteration

mahādevaṃ virūpākṣaṃ candrārddhakṛtaśekharam | amṛtaṃ śāśvataṃ sthāṇuṃ nīlakaṃṭhaṃ pinākinam

Translation

నేను మహాదేవునికి నమస్కరిస్తాను—విరూపాక్షుడికి, శిరస్సుపై అర్ధచంద్రశేఖరుడికి; అమృతస్వరూపుడైన శాశ్వత స్థాణువుకు; నీలకంఠుడికి, పినాకధారికి।

Word by Word

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• विरूपाक्षम्: the odd/unique-eyed one
• विरूपाक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूप + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य)

• चन्द्रार्द्धकृतशेखरम्: whose crest is made of the half-moon
• चन्द्रार्द्धकृतशेखरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + अर्द्ध + कृत + शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-समाससमूहः: ‘चन्द्रस्य अर्द्धं कृतः शेखरः यस्य’ (अर्थतः बहुव्रीह्यर्थ)

• अमृतम्: the deathless one
• अमृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (देवनामरूपेण)

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्थाणुम्: the immovable one (Sthāṇu)
• स्थाणुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थाणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नीलकण्ठम्: blue-throated one
• नीलकण्ठम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (नीलः कण्ठः यस्य)

• पिनाकिनम्: bearer of the Pināka bow
• पिनाकिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मतुप्/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor noun)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse functions as a nāma-sañcaya (cluster of epithets) for Śiva rather than a site-specific Jyotirliṅga māhātmya; the crescent (candrārdha) and Nīlakaṇṭha motifs are pan-Śaiva and recur across many sthala traditions.

Significance: General phala: smaraṇa/namaskāra to these names is held to purify pāśa (bondage) and orient the paśu (soul) toward Pati (Lord).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: महादेवं विरूपाक्षं चन्द्रार्द्धकृतशेखरम् । अमृतं शाश्वतं स्थाणुं नीलकंठं पिनाकिनम्

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse gathers key epithets of Śiva—immortal (amṛta), eternal (śāśvata), and steadfast (sthāṇu)—to direct the devotee toward Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose grace cuts bondage (pāśa) and grants liberation, while also affirming His compassionate Saguna form for devotion.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

These names function as dhyāna (contemplative) identifiers for Saguna Śiva worship—especially in Liṅga-pūjā—where the formless truth is approached through sacred marks and attributes such as the crescent moon (candrārdha) and the blue throat (nīlakaṇṭha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and dhyāna: chant these Śiva-nāmas (optionally with the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while visualizing Chandrārdhaśekhara and Nīlakaṇṭha; this can be paired with traditional Śaiva observances like applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and offering water to the Liṅga.