Shloka 29
शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्
Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras
कृष्ण कृष्णशिखश्चैव कृष्णा स्यः कृष्णकण्ठधृक् । इति तेऽव्यक्तनामानः शिवरूपाः सुतेजसः
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇaśikhaścaiva kṛṣṇā syaḥ kṛṣṇakaṇṭhadhṛk | iti te'vyaktanāmānaḥ śivarūpāḥ sutejasaḥ
వారు కృష్ణవర్ణులు, కృష్ణశిఖ కలవారు, కృష్ణముఖులు, కృష్ణకంఠధారులు; ఈ విధంగా వారు అవ్యక్తనాములు, స్వతేజస్సుతో ప్రకాశించే శివరూపాలు।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva’s countless manifestations may appear with specific attributes (like a dark hue or dark throat), yet their essence is pure, self-luminous consciousness; even when names and forms are “unmanifest,” Śiva remains the radiant Pati (Lord) beyond limitation.
The verse supports Saguna-upāsanā by allowing devotees to meditate on recognizable divine attributes, while also pointing to the Linga’s deeper meaning: the unmanifest reality (avyakta) from which all named forms arise and into which they dissolve.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva’s form (rūpa-dhyāna) while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating that the visible attribute (color/form) is a doorway to the formless, self-effulgent Śiva.