Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45
मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach
to the Sage
यद्वै द्वारगतश्शंभुः पुरा विकटरूपधृक् । नानालीलाञ्च कृतवाञ्चेतयामि च तामिमाम्
yadvai dvāragataśśaṃbhuḥ purā vikaṭarūpadhṛk | nānālīlāñca kṛtavāñcetayāmi ca tāmimām
Ta hồi tưởng việc ấy: thuở xưa, Śambhu đến nơi cửa ngõ, mang hình tướng đáng sợ, và diễn bày nhiều cuộc thần hí—nhằm che giấu rồi lại hiển lộ ân sủng của Ngài đối với người sùng kính.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it recalls Śiva arriving at a doorway in a fearsome guise to enact līlā that first veils (tirodhāna) and then bestows grace (anugraha).
FAQs
The verse highlights smaraṇa (devotional remembrance): recalling Śiva’s līlā—even when He appears in an awe-inspiring form—purifies fear into reverence and opens the heart to His anugraha (grace), a key Shaiva path toward liberation.
Śiva’s “vikaṭa-rūpa” points to Saguna worship—God approached through form and action. Remembering His līlās supports steady devotion that culminates in deeper contemplation of the Liṅga as the ever-present sign of Pati (Śiva) beyond changing appearances.
Practice daily smaraṇa: mentally recite and contemplate Śiva’s deeds with the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during japa; this verse especially suits quiet dhyāna on Śiva’s protective, testing, and grace-bestowing presence.