Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
पार्वत्याः तपः-परीक्षा (Śiva Tests Pārvatī’s Austerity)
अत्र जन्मनि संप्राप्तश्शिवोऽपि विधिवैभवात् । मां त्यक्त्वा भस्मसात्कृत्य मन्मथं स जगाम ह
atra janmani saṃprāptaśśivo'pi vidhivaibhavāt | māṃ tyaktvā bhasmasātkṛtya manmathaṃ sa jagāma ha
اسی جنم میں بھی تقدیر کے غلبے سے شِو نے مجھے ایک طرف کر دیا؛ اور منمتھ کو بھسم کر کے وہ چلا گیا۔
Pārvatī
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Reference to Kāma’s incineration (Kāmabhasma) when Śiva is disturbed from tapas; many local traditions connect ‘Kāmada-hana’ sites, but the verse itself does not anchor to a Jyotirliṅga.
Significance: Teaches vairāgya: Śiva’s burning of Kāma symbolizes mastery over desire; for sādhakas, it is a template for conquering kāma (a key pāśa) through tapas and grace.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva as the Lord who subdues kāma (binding desire). From a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, it points to Pati (Śiva) transcending the pāśa of desire and teaching that liberation requires inner dispassion and God-centered devotion.
Śiva’s act of turning Kāma to ashes is a Saguna līlā that reveals His nirguṇa purity—untouched by passion. In Liṅga worship, devotees contemplate this ash-making power as the burning of impurities (mala) and attachments, offering devotion that seeks Śiva rather than worldly gratification.
A practical takeaway is cultivating vairāgya while worshipping—applying sacred bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) with remembrance that desire is to be ‘burned’ in Śiva-consciousness, and repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with restraint of the senses.