Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 92
मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach
to the Sage
ताभ्यां चाहं तथा ब्रह्मा ततश्च गुणरूपतः । अवतीर्य स्वयं रुद्रो लोकानां हितकारकः
tābhyāṃ cāhaṃ tathā brahmā tataśca guṇarūpataḥ | avatīrya svayaṃ rudro lokānāṃ hitakārakaḥ
Từ hai nguyên lý ấy, ta và Brahmā đã phát sinh; rồi Rudra tự thân giáng hạ, mang hình tướng cấu thành bởi các guṇa, để làm lợi ích cho muôn thế giới.
Lord Shiva (Rudra) (contextual inference within Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narration)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Cosmic Event: descent/manifestation for world-order (avataraṇa)
FAQs
It teaches that although Śiva is supreme, He compassionately assumes a guṇa-conditioned (saguṇa) form as Rudra to protect, uplift, and guide beings toward liberation—showing divine grace as the source of worldly welfare and spiritual good.
By stating that Rudra “descends” in a guṇa-formed manifestation, it supports saguṇa-upāsanā: devotees approach Śiva through accessible forms—especially the Śiva-liṅga—while recognizing that the form is a merciful expression of the transcendent Lord.
A practical takeaway is saguṇa devotion anchored in mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and liṅga-pūjā, cultivating gratitude for Rudra as lokānāṃ hitakārakaḥ (the benefactor of all worlds).