Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49
मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva
Departure for Śiva’s Darśana
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा हर्षिता मेना तं ददर्श मुदा प्रभुम् । अद्भुताकृतिमीशानमद्भुतानुगमद्भुतम्
brahmovāca | ityuktvā harṣitā menā taṃ dadarśa mudā prabhum | adbhutākṛtimīśānamadbhutānugamadbhutam
梵天说道：“如此说罢，满怀欢喜的梅那便欣然瞻见主宰——伊沙那（Īśāna）：形相奇妙，随从奇妙，通体皆是不可思议的庄严。”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Ishana
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s grace-filled self-revelation (darśana) as Īśāna: when the heart becomes joyful and receptive, the Lord appears as the wondrous Pati, inspiring bhakti and loosening the bonds (pāśa) of fear and limitation.
The verse emphasizes Saguna darśana—Śiva seen in a perceivable divine form with a celestial retinue. In Śaiva practice, the Liṅga similarly serves as a compassionate, worshipful focus through which Nirguna reality is approached via Saguna worship.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate joyful devotion through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple pūjā (optionally with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra), praying for inner purity so that Śiva’s presence becomes experientially ‘seen’ in meditation.