Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”
वर्षाणां तु सहस्रं वै मस्तकेनास्थितास्तथा । वर्षाणां तु शतेनैव ऊर्द्ध्वबाहव आसिताः
varṣāṇāṃ tu sahasraṃ vai mastakenāsthitāstathā | varṣāṇāṃ tu śatenaiva ūrddhvabāhava āsitāḥ
确实，他们倒立以头着地达一千年；又再一百年，他们双臂高举而住——以坚定的戒律承受严酷的苦行。
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti
FAQs
The verse highlights unwavering tapas (austerity) and steadiness of resolve—showing that sustained discipline, offered toward Lord Shiva, purifies the pashu (bound soul) and prepares it for Shiva’s grace (anugraha), which is central to Shaiva Siddhanta.
Such austerities are portrayed as intense forms of Saguna Shiva-oriented sadhana—acts of body and will offered to the Lord. In Purana context, tapas supports devotion and vow-based worship (vrata), which culminates in Shiva’s compassionate response rather than mere physical endurance alone.
The takeaway is disciplined vow-practice (vrata) with steady meditation on Shiva—ideally supported by Shiva-nama japa (e.g., the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and regular purity observances like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha, as taught broadly in Shaiva practice.