Śveta’s Stotra to Śiva

This is the stotra that the rājarshi (royal ṛshi) Śveta offered to Parameśvara, Bhagavān Śiva, at Kālañjara. It is found in the Uttarārdha of the Kūrma Purāṇa, Chapter 35.

Śveta had seen Parameśvara appear out of the sky in a blaze of light. He had seen Bhagavān Śiva kill Kāla with one stroke of his left foot, and he saw him stand before him with Devī Ambā. Tears of bhakti (devotion) ran down his face as he offered this stotra. It is a prayer of śaraṇāgati, complete surrender, made at the moment of moksha. It came just before Parameśvara gave him gaṇāpatya and sārūpya.

The setting

Śveta lived at Kālañjara and was a rājarshi. He was devoted to Bhagavān Śiva without a break. Kāla had come in a blazing and terrible form. Śveta had held on to the Śivaliṅga and chanted the Śatarudrīya. In plain fear he had called on Parameśvara and taken refuge in him (prapatti), and he was heard.

Out of the split sky Parameśvara appeared in a mass of golden divine light. He was garlanded with flames, the crescent moon shone on him, and Devī was with him. Even in the presence of Parameśvara, Kāla had bound Śveta with the pāśa (noose). Then Kāla moved on Parameśvara with his weapon. At that point Bhagavān Śiva raised his left foot and killed Kāla before Śveta’s eyes.

Now Śveta saw Bhagavān Śiva standing in his glory with Ambā. Kāla was dead and his own moksha was sure. He fell flat on the ground and offered the stotra.

The stotra

Namaskaraḥ to the jagaddhetave, to Bhava, to the jagatsṛshṭi-Hara.

Salutation to the cause of the world, to Bhava, to the one who creates and takes away the world.

Namaskaraḥ to the jñānarūpa Śiva, to the apavargadāyike.

Salutation to Śiva whose form is knowledge, to the giver of apavarga.

Namaskaraḥ three times to you, the mahāvibhūti. Namaskaraḥ to the mumukshu.

Salutation three times to you, of great vibhūti (divine glory). Salutation to the one who is sought by those who long for moksha.

Namaskaraḥ to the akhaṇḍarūpa, to the Narādhipa, to the Gaṇādhipa, to the Prapaṇṇaduḥkhanāśana.

Salutation to the one whose form is whole and unbroken, to the ruler of men, to the ruler of the Gaṇas, to the destroyer of the suffering of those who come to him for refuge.

Namaskaraḥ to the anādi-nitya-bhūtika, to the Varāhaśṛṅgadhārin.

Salutation to the one who is without beginning and always the source of what exists, to the bearer of the horn of the boar.

Namaskaraḥ to the Vṛshadhvaja, to the Kapālamālin.

Salutation to the one whose banner is the bull, to the one garlanded with skulls.

Namaskaraḥ to the Mahānaṭa, to the Vṛshadhvaja once more.

Salutation to the great dancer, and once more to the one whose banner is the bull.

The names invoked

The stotra calls on Parameśvara by these names, each of which names a side of him:

• Jagaddhetave: the cause of the world, the one for whose sake the jagat (world) exists.
• Bhava: the one who is svayambhū (self-born), existence itself.
• Jagatsṛshṭi-Hara: the one who both creates the world and takes it away.
• Jñānarūpa: whose own nature (svarūpa) is pure jñāna (knowledge).
• Apavargadāyike: the giver of apavarga, the final moksha beyond karma.
• Mahāvibhūti: of matchless divine vibhūti.
• Akhaṇḍarūpa: the whole, unbroken, undivided form.
• Narādhipa: ruler over all human beings.
• Gaṇādhipa: ruler over all the Gaṇas. This is the very title that Śveta was about to receive.
• Prapaṇṇaduḥkhanāśana: the destroyer of the suffering of those who take śaraṇa (refuge).
• Varāhaśṛṅgadhārin: the bearer of the śṛṅga (horn) of the varāha (boar), the form of Bhagavān Vishṇu at the creation, here within Bhagavān Śiva.
• Vṛshadhvaja: whose dhvaja (banner) is the Vṛshabha (bull), dharma itself made visible.
• Kapālamālin: garlanded with kapālas (skulls), the form that is fearful and beautiful at once.
• Mahānaṭa: the great cosmic dancer, whose dance is the universe.

The moksha

Parameśvara was pleased with the stotra and with the fullness of Śveta’s bhakti. He gave him gaṇāpatya, which is entry into the eternal company of the Gaṇas of Bhagavān Śiva, and sārūpya, a form like the form of Bhagavān Śiva himself.

Hara left with Devī Pārvatī and with Śveta, and he vanished from sight at once.

The tīrtha of Kālañjara is where this moksha took place. It has the power to give gaṇāpatya to all who come with the same kind of devotion as Śveta.

Sources

• Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 35