Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10
तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode
Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall
दृष्ट्वा तं च पुरः प्राप्तं स्वकांतं सा मुदान्विता । तत्पादौ क्षालयामास ननाम च रुरोद च
dṛṣṭvā taṃ ca puraḥ prāptaṃ svakāṃtaṃ sā mudānvitā | tatpādau kṣālayāmāsa nanāma ca ruroda ca
เมื่อเห็นผู้เป็นที่รักมาถึงต่อหน้า นางก็เปี่ยมด้วยความปีติ นางล้างพระบาท กราบนอบน้อม และหลั่งน้ำตาไปพร้อมกัน
Suta Goswami (narrating the account to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights bhakti expressed as reverent service (washing the feet), surrender (bowing), and heartfelt devotion (tears). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such loving humility purifies the soul (paśu) and loosens bondage (pāśa) through grace toward the Lord (Pati).
The actions mirror saguna-upasana: honoring Shiva as a personal Lord through tangible acts of worship. Just as devotees perform abhisheka and respectful offerings to the Shiva Linga, washing the feet symbolizes welcoming the Divine Presence and serving Shiva with intimacy and awe.
It suggests seva-based worship such as pāda-pūjā (symbolically), namaskāra, and emotional sincerity in japa. Practically, one may perform Shiva-pūjā/lingābhisheka with a surrendered attitude while repeating the Panchakshara mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”