Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana
Churning of the Milk Ocean
अपाययत्सुरांस्तांश्च मोहिनीस्त्रीस्वरूपधृक् । मोहयित्वा सुरान्सर्वान्हरिर्मायाविनां वरः
apāyayatsurāṃstāṃśca mohinīstrīsvarūpadhṛk | mohayitvā surānsarvānharirmāyāvināṃ varaḥ
哈利化作迷惑众生的摩希尼女相,使诸天饮下甘露;并在令一切天神迷乱之后,这位最善运用摩耶的哈利遂达成其所愿。
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
It highlights māyā as a divine power that can bewilder even celestial beings; from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it points to the need for viveka (discernment) and Shiva-bhakti to transcend delusion and move toward liberation.
The narrative underscores that forms and appearances can mislead; Linga-worship anchors the mind in Shiva as the stable, auspicious Reality (Saguna for worship, leading toward the realization beyond māyā), helping the devotee remain steady amid enchantment and distraction.
Daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and mindful self-restraint is a practical takeaway—cultivating inner clarity so the mind is not carried away by मोह (delusion).