Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras
यमक्षरं वेदविदो निगदंति मनीषिणः । ज्योतीरूपं शिवं ते च चिंतयिष्ये सनातनम्
yamakṣaraṃ vedavido nigadaṃti manīṣiṇaḥ | jyotīrūpaṃ śivaṃ te ca ciṃtayiṣye sanātanam
พยางค์สูงสุดอันไม่เสื่อมสูญซึ่งผู้รู้พระเวทและบัณฑิตประกาศนั้น—ข้าพเจ้าขอเพ่งภาวนาพระศิวะผู้เป็นนิรันดร์ ผู้มีรูปเป็นแสงสว่างนั้นเอง
Satī (speaking in devotional contemplation of Śiva within the Satīkhaṇḍa narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava
Sthala Purana: The verse evokes Śiva as jyotiḥ-svarūpa (light-form), thematically resonant with Jyotirliṅga revelation narratives where the infinite pillar of light establishes Śiva’s supremacy.
Significance: Meditation on jyotiḥ-svarūpa Śiva is presented as a direct means to inner purification and grace (anugraha).
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It identifies Śiva with the Akṣara (imperishable sacred principle) praised by Vedic knowers and presents Him as Jyoti—pure, self-revealing consciousness—inviting steady contemplation as the means toward liberation under the Lord’s grace.
Calling Śiva “jyotīrūpa” bridges Saguna and Nirguna: the devotee may worship the Liṅga as the visible support for meditation while realizing that its inner truth is the formless, imperishable Light (Pati) beyond all change.
Dhyāna and mantra-japa: contemplate Śiva as the luminous Akṣara while repeating a Śaiva mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), optionally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.