Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
अंतर्हिते तदा देवे शिवरूपे सनातने । अहं विष्णुश्च विप्रेन्द्र अधिकं सुखमाप्तवान्
aṃtarhite tadā deve śivarūpe sanātane | ahaṃ viṣṇuśca viprendra adhikaṃ sukhamāptavān
噢，婆罗门中的佼佼者，当那位具有湿婆形象的永恒天神从视野中隐去时，我和毗湿奴获得了更大的宁静与至福。
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not a specific jyotirliṅga episode; the motif of Śiva’s disappearance/veiling parallels liṅga-epiphanies where the Lord reveals and withdraws to humble deities.
FAQs
It highlights Shiva’s sovereign freedom to reveal or withdraw His presence; when the Lord becomes “hidden,” the ego of rivalry subsides and Brahma and Vishnu rest in a higher, Shiva-given peace—pointing to grace (anugraha) beyond mere perception.
The verse implies that Shiva is not confined to a visible form; Linga worship trains the devotee to recognize Shiva as both manifest (saguna symbol) and transcendent—present even when not seen, guiding the mind toward steadiness and devotion.
Meditate on Shiva’s presence even in apparent absence by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and inner recollection of Shiva as the eternal Pati; this fosters calmness and surrender rather than agitation for outward signs.