Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

काली कात्यायिनीशानी चामुंडा मुंडमर्दिनी । भद्रकाली तथा भद्रा त्वरिता वैष्णवी तथा

Transliteration

kālī kātyāyinīśānī cāmuṃḍā muṃḍamardinī | bhadrakālī tathā bhadrā tvaritā vaiṣṇavī tathā

Translation

她是迦梨（Kālī）；迦底耶耶尼（Kātyāyanī）；伊舍尼（Īśānī，至尊女主）；查穆恩达（Cāmuṇḍā，诛灭恶魔者）；蒙达摩尔迪尼（Muṇḍamardinī，碾碎蒙达者）；吉祥迦梨（Bhadrakālī）；吉祥者（Bhadrā）；迅护者（Tvaritā，迅速赐护佑）；亦名毗湿奴母（Vaiṣṇavī）。

Word by Word

• काली: Kālī
• काली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कात्यायिनी: Kātyāyanī
• कात्यायिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कात्यायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईशानी: Īśānī
• ईशानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चामुण्डा: Cāmuṇḍā
• चामुण्डा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामुण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुण्डमर्दिनी: crusher of heads
• मुण्डमर्दिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड + मर्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मुण्डान् मर्दयति इति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भद्रकाली: Bhadrakālī
• भद्रकाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र + काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (भद्रा काली), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction) ‘also/likewise’

• भद्रा: Bhadrā
• भद्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वरिता: Tvaritā
• त्वरिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वरिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैष्णवी: Vaiṣṇavī
• वैष्णवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction) ‘also/likewise’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Rudrasaṃhitā—Satīkhaṇḍa flow)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a nāma-list (epithet cluster) of Devī’s fierce/auspicious forms within the Dakṣa-yajña narrative, foregrounding Śiva’s śakti as the operative power behind cosmic retribution.

Significance: Recitation functions as smaraṇa of Devī’s protective and corrective power (śakti) aligned with Śiva’s dharma; traditionally used to invoke rakṣā and removal of hostile forces.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: kālī kātyāyinīśānī cāmuṃḍā muṃḍamardinī | bhadrakālī tathā bhadrā tvaritā vaiṣṇavī tathā

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Precursor to the disruption of Dakṣa’s yajña; dharmic correction through Śiva-śakti’s intervention.

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shakti
• Kali
• Katyayani
• Ishani
• Chamunda
• Bhadrakali
• Vaishnavi

FAQs

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

The verse lists revered names of the Devī, showing her as Śiva’s inseparable Śakti—protective, swift to remove obstacles, and fierce against inner and outer negativity—supporting the devotee’s movement from bondage (pāśa) toward grace.

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

In Śaiva practice, worship of the Liṅga is not separated from Śakti: Īśānī is the living power through which Śiva’s grace operates. Remembering these names complements Saguna worship by invoking protection, purification, and steadiness in devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is nāma-japa (repetition) of these Devī-names before or alongside Liṅga-pūjā, mentally offering them with bilva and water; it pairs well with Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).