Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः
Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds
सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाप्रेम्णा चरितं शशिमौलिनः । यथाऽवधीत्त्रिशूलेन दानवेन्द्रं गजासुरम्
sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇu vyāsa mahāpremṇā caritaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ | yathā'vadhīttriśūlena dānavendraṃ gajāsuram
Sanatkumāra nói: Hỡi Vyāsa, hãy lắng nghe với tình yêu lớn lao những thánh tích của Đấng đội Trăng (Śiva)—Ngài đã dùng Tam Xoa mà diệt Gajāsura, chúa tể loài Dānava, như thế nào.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Gajasamhāramūrti
Sthala Purana: Introduces the Gajāsura-vadha episode: Śiva slays the elephant-demon with the triśūla; often associated in later temple iconography with Gajasamhāra panels rather than a Jyotirliṅga site per se.
Significance: Hearing (śravaṇa) of Śiva’s demon-slaying līlā is presented as a bhakti-act (‘mahāpremṇā’), cultivating surrender and trust in Śiva’s protective power.
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Demon-slaying as cosmic rebalancing: Rudra’s saṃhāra restores dharma and removes obstructive forces (āsuric pāśa-like bondage).
FAQs
The verse emphasizes śravaṇa—devotional listening with love—as a direct means to awaken bhakti toward Pati (Śiva). Hearing His līlā purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens pāśa (bondage) by turning the mind toward the Lord’s protecting, grace-bestowing power.
By naming Śiva as “śaśimauli” (Moon-crested), the verse points to Saguna Shiva—worshipped through form, names, and līlā. Such narration supports Linga-bhakti because the Linga is the accessible presence of the same Lord whose deeds are being heard and contemplated.
Practice śravaṇa and manana: regularly listen to (or recite) Shiva Purana chapters with devotion, then contemplate Śiva as the protector who removes inner “asuric” tendencies. A simple support is japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—before and after the reading.