Shloka 64
Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam
The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity
इति प्रोक्तस्तु ते तात ब्रह्मचारि स्वरूपकः । शिवावतारो हि मया शिवाभावपरीक्षकः
iti proktastu te tāta brahmacāri svarūpakaḥ | śivāvatāro hi mayā śivābhāvaparīkṣakaḥ
“Vì thế, hỡi con thơ, ta đã nói cho con về hình tướng ấy—Brahmacārī, bậc khổ hạnh giữ hạnh thanh tịnh. Quả thật đó là một hóa thân của Śiva do ta mang lấy, để khảo nghiệm ‘Śiva-bhāva’—lòng sùng kính và khuynh hướng nội tâm hướng về Śiva—có chân thật hay không.”
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it explains a didactic avatāra (Brahmacārī) used to test inner Śiva-bhāva.
Significance: Frames the spiritual criterion of ‘śiva-bhāva’ (true orientation to Śiva) as the measure of worthiness; encourages self-examination and humility before the guru-principle.
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva may appear in an ascetic, humble guise to examine whether devotion is genuine—rooted in śiva-bhāva (inner alignment to Śiva) rather than outward status or appearances.
By highlighting an avatāra with a recognizable form, the verse supports Saguna worship: devotees learn to honor Śiva’s presence whether in the Liṅga or in embodied manifestations meant to guide and test bhakti.
Cultivate śiva-bhāva through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined conduct (brahmacarya/inner restraint), so devotion remains constant even when tested.