Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
वर्षायुतं तत्र तपश्चचार जजाप जाप्यं विधृतैकपादः । आहारहीनो नियमोर्द्ध्वबाहुः कर्त्तुं न शक्यं हि सुरा सुरैर्यत्
varṣāyutaṃ tatra tapaścacāra jajāpa jāpyaṃ vidhṛtaikapādaḥ | āhārahīno niyamorddhvabāhuḥ karttuṃ na śakyaṃ hi surā surairyat
Doon ay nagsagawa siya ng matinding tapas sa loob ng sampung libong taon, at inusal ang mantrang nararapat ulit-ulitin. Nakatindig sa iisang paa, walang pagkain, mahigpit sa mga panata at nakataas ang mga bisig—tinahak niya ang disiplina na tunay na di magagawa maging ng mga deva at mga asura.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights tapas and mantra-japa as a fierce purification of the limited self (paśu), showing that unwavering discipline can surpass even divine and demonic capacities when directed toward Shiva as the supreme Pati.
The verse emphasizes embodied practice—vows, japa, and yogic restraint—which in Shiva Purana tradition commonly culminate in Saguna Shiva worship such as Linga-sevā, where disciplined devotion becomes fit to receive Shiva’s grace.
Sustained mantra-japa with niyama (vows), fasting or regulated diet, and steady yogic posture; for Shaiva practice this can be aligned with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") along with vrata observances (especially on Mahāśivarātri).