Shloka 29
शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्
Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras
कृष्ण कृष्णशिखश्चैव कृष्णा स्यः कृष्णकण्ठधृक् । इति तेऽव्यक्तनामानः शिवरूपाः सुतेजसः
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇaśikhaścaiva kṛṣṇā syaḥ kṛṣṇakaṇṭhadhṛk | iti te'vyaktanāmānaḥ śivarūpāḥ sutejasaḥ
وہ سیاہ رنگ کے، سیاہ شِکھا والے، سیاہ چہرے والے اور سیاہ گلے کے حامل تھے؛ یوں وہ بےظہور ناموں والے، اپنے ہی نور سے درخشاں شیو-روپ تھے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva’s countless manifestations may appear with specific attributes (like a dark hue or dark throat), yet their essence is pure, self-luminous consciousness; even when names and forms are “unmanifest,” Śiva remains the radiant Pati (Lord) beyond limitation.
The verse supports Saguna-upāsanā by allowing devotees to meditate on recognizable divine attributes, while also pointing to the Linga’s deeper meaning: the unmanifest reality (avyakta) from which all named forms arise and into which they dissolve.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva’s form (rūpa-dhyāna) while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating that the visible attribute (color/form) is a doorway to the formless, self-effulgent Śiva.