Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 70
देवस्तुतिः—नन्दिकेश्वरविज्ञप्तिः—शम्भोः समाधेः उत्थानम्
Devas’ Hymn, Nandikeśvara’s Petition, and Śiva’s Rising from Samādhi
विषं पीतं सुरार्थं हि भक्तवत्सलभावधृक् । देवकष्टं हृतं यत्नात्सर्वदैव मया सुराः
viṣaṃ pītaṃ surārthaṃ hi bhaktavatsalabhāvadhṛk | devakaṣṭaṃ hṛtaṃ yatnātsarvadaiva mayā surāḥ
دیوتاؤں کی خاطر میں نے زہر پیا، کیونکہ میں بھکتوں پر کرپا کرنے والا ہوں۔ اے دیوتاؤ، میں نے ہمیشہ کوشش سے تمہاری تکلیف دور کی ہے۔
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Sthala Purana: Allusion to samudra-manthana: Śiva drinks hālāhala to save the devas, becoming Nīlakaṇṭha. Though not a Jyotirliṅga origin here, it functions as a pan-Śaiva ‘sthala’ of cosmic rescue remembered in many temples named Nīlakaṇṭheśvara.
Significance: Promises protection and alleviation of ‘deva-kaṣṭa’ (cosmic/collective distress); devotees approach Śiva as the one who absorbs poison—symbolically taking on devotees’ pāpa/kleśa.
Type: rudram
Role: nurturing
Offering: dhupa
Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana; emergence of hālāhala poison (mythic cosmic crisis).
FAQs
It presents Shiva as the compassionate Pati who voluntarily bears poison and suffering to protect the worlds—teaching that divine grace and self-offering remove fear and distress for those who take refuge in him.
The verse points to Saguna Shiva as Neelakantha—the protector who intervenes in cosmic crises; Linga-worship becomes a direct way to approach this saving grace and steadfast guardianship.
Meditate on Neelakantha Shiva while japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offer water/bilva to the Linga with the intent of seeking protection and inner purification from ‘poisons’ like anger, pride, and attachment.