Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

उमाख्या सा महादेवी त्रिदेवजननी परा । मूलप्रकृतिराख्याता सुरामा गिरिजात्मिका

Transliteration

umākhyā sā mahādevī tridevajananī parā | mūlaprakṛtirākhyātā surāmā girijātmikā

Translation

พระนางเป็นที่รู้จักว่า “อุมา” มหาเทวีผู้สูงสุด เป็นมารดาแห่งตรีเทพ และทรงได้รับประกาศว่าเป็นมูลปรกฤติเอง เป็นเทวีมารดาแห่งเหล่าเทพ และเป็นสภาวะแห่งคิริชา

Word by Word

• उमा-आख्या: named Umā
• उमा-आख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: उमाया आख्या (named ‘Umā’)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• महादेवी: the Great Goddess
• महादेवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः: महती देवी

• त्रिदेव-जननी: mother of the three gods
• त्रिदेव-जननी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: त्रिदेवानां जननी

• परा: supreme
• परा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• मूल-प्रकृतिः: the primordial Nature
• मूल-प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः: मूलभूता प्रकृतिः

• आख्याता: is called
• आख्याता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्या धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle): ‘called/declared’

• सुर-अमा: mother of the gods
• सुर-अमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सुराणाम् अमा (mother)

• गिरिज-आत्मिका: of the nature of Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिज-आत्मिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरिज (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गिरिजायाः आत्मिका / गिरिजास्वरूपा

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Uma
• Mahadevi
• Parvati (Girija)
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Umā (Pārvatī) as Mahādevī—supreme Shakti—identified with Mūla-Prakṛti, indicating that cosmic manifestation and divine grace operate through her inseparable unity with Śiva (Pati), guiding the soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

In Śaiva worship, the Liṅga signifies Śiva as the transcendent reality, while Umā/Mahādevī signifies His immanent power (Śakti). This verse supports Saguna worship of Śiva together with Śakti—honoring the Liṅga with devotion that recognizes divine power, compassion, and manifestation through the Goddess.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to worship Śiva with Śakti-bhāva: perform Liṅga-pūjā with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and contemplate Umā as Mūla-Prakṛti—the divine power enabling purification and grace—optionally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Śaiva supports.