Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra
ऋषय ऊचुः । देवी दक्षस्य तनया त्यक्त्वा दाक्षायणी तनुम् । कथं हिमवतः पुत्री मेनायामभवत्पुरा
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | devī dakṣasya tanayā tyaktvā dākṣāyaṇī tanum | kathaṃ himavataḥ putrī menāyāmabhavatpurā
ఋషులు పలికిరి—దక్షుని కుమార్తె దేవి దాక్షాయణీ దేహాన్ని త్యజించిన తరువాత, పూర్వం మేనాదేవి గర్భమున జన్మించి హిమవంతుని కుమార్తెగా ఎలా అయింది?
The sages (ṛṣis) addressing the narrator (Sūta) in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā context
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: The question introduces the Satī→Pārvatī rebirth arc; in later Śaiva pilgrimage lore this arc often undergirds Devī/Śiva-kṣetra narratives, but no single Jyotirliṅga is specified here.
Significance: Frames the salvific logic of Śiva–Śakti līlā: apparent separation (Satī’s tyāga) and re-manifestation (Pārvatī’s birth) as a pedagogy for devotees.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Reincarnation/re-manifestation of Devī after Satī’s body-abandonment (deha-tyāga) is foregrounded.
FAQs
It marks the transition from Sati’s self-abandonment to her purposeful re-manifestation as Parvati, showing the continuity of Śakti’s compassionate descent for dharma and for reunion with Pati (Shiva), guiding beings toward moksha.
By asking how the Goddess returns to support Shiva’s divine play, the verse frames Saguna worship: Devi’s embodiment enables householders to approach Shiva through accessible forms—Linga worship accompanied by Shakti—while pointing to the ultimate, transcendent Nirguna reality.
A practical takeaway is remembrance of Shiva–Shakti unity: japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion to Devi Parvati, supported by simple Linga-puja (water/flower offering) as a meditative focus on Pati, Pāśu, and Pāśa.