Shloka 26

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

अर्द्धचन्द्रधरा देवी मणिकुण्डलधारिणी । रम्यवेणिर्विंशालाक्षी लोचनत्रयभूषिता

Transliteration

arddhacandradharā devī maṇikuṇḍaladhāriṇī | ramyaveṇirviṃśālākṣī locanatrayabhūṣitā

Translation

Nữ Thần mang vầng trăng lưỡi liềm và đeo khuyên tai châu báu. Tóc bới đẹp đẽ, đôi mắt rộng rạng ngời; và được trang nghiêm bởi con mắt thứ ba—tỏa sáng như quyền năng hữu tướng (saguṇa) cát tường của Śiva.

Word by Word

• अर्द्धचन्द्रधरा: bearing the half-moon
• अर्द्धचन्द्रधरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द्धचन्द्र + धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अर्द्धचन्द्रस्य धरा (bearing the half-moon)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मणिकुण्डलधारिणी: wearing jeweled earrings
• मणिकुण्डलधारिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि + कुण्डल + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मणिकुण्डले धारिणी (wearing jeweled earrings)

• रम्यवेणिः: with a beautiful braid
• रम्यवेणिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य + वेणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: रम्या वेणिः (having a lovely braid/tress)

• विंशालाक्षी: large-eyed
• विंशालाक्षी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल + अक्षी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: विशालानि अक्षीणि यस्याः (large-eyed)

• लोचनत्रयभूषिता: adorned with three eyes
• लोचनत्रयभूषिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोचन + त्रय + भूषिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: लोचनत्रयेण भूषिता (adorned with three eyes)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It presents Devī as Śiva’s manifest auspicious power (Śakti) in a meditational form: the crescent moon signifies cooling grace and divine sovereignty, while the three eyes indicate transcendent awareness that burns ignorance and grants spiritual clarity.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Śaiva Siddhānta, the Liṅga signifies Śiva (Pati), and devotion is completed through honoring Śiva together with His Śakti. This verse supports saguṇa-upāsanā—visualizing the divine attributes of Devī—alongside Liṅga worship to cultivate devotion and inner purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use dhyāna: mentally visualize Devī with the crescent moon and three eyes, then offer mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before or after Liṅga pūjā; conclude with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and a prayer for removal of ajñāna (ignorance).