Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”
सा च संध्या सुता मे हि मनोजाता पुराऽ भवत् । तपस्तप्त्वा तनुं त्यक्त्वा सैव जाता त्वरुंधती
sā ca saṃdhyā sutā me hi manojātā purā' bhavat | tapastaptvā tanuṃ tyaktvā saiva jātā tvaruṃdhatī
“那位桑迪雅确是我的女儿，往昔由我的意念而生。她修行苦行，舍弃彼身之后，又亲自再生为贞洁的阿伦达蒂（Arundhatī）。”
Brahmā
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse presents tapas (disciplined austerity) as a transformative power: by purifying intention and karma, a jīva can relinquish an old embodiment and attain a nobler birth aligned with dharma—here exemplified by Sandhyā becoming Arundhatī, an icon of chastity and steadiness.
In Shaiva tradition, worship of Saguna Shiva (often through the Liṅga) emphasizes purification through vrata, self-restraint, and devotion. The narrative mirrors that ethic: tapas and renunciation refine the seeker’s conduct, making one fit for Shiva’s grace and for dharmic stability symbolized by Arundhatī.
A practical takeaway is vrata with tapas: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), simple fasting or restraint, and inner discipline—supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa where customary—as a means of purification and steadiness in dharma.