अघोरस्य प्रादुर्भावः कुमारकचतुष्टयं च योगमार्गः
कृष्णांबरधरोष्णीषं कृष्णयज्ञोपवीतिनम् कृष्णेन मौलिना युक्तं कृष्णस्रगनुलेपनम्
kṛṣṇāṃbaradharoṣṇīṣaṃ kṛṣṇayajñopavītinam kṛṣṇena maulinā yuktaṃ kṛṣṇasraganulepanam
وُصِفَ بأنه يرتدي ثياباً داكنة وعمامة داكنة، ويحمل الخيط المقدّس الداكن؛ ورأسه مزدان بعُرفٍ داكن، ومُحلّى بأكاليل ودهون عطرية داكنة—كاشفاً عن الرب «پَتي» الذي تمتصّ هيئته كل الألوان والصفات وتتجاوزها، ومع ذلك يبقى الحاكم الباطن لجميع الكائنات (پَشو).
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
It supplies a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) for Shiva: the devotee visualizes the Lord’s marked attributes before linga-pūjā, steadying the mind on Pati so the paśu turns inward from bondage (pāśa) toward grace.
Though presented with visible qualities (dark garments, garlands, unguents), the intent is tattvic: Shiva is the all-containing ground of experience, the transcendent Pati who can assume forms for devotees while remaining beyond limiting guṇas.
Dhyāna (visual contemplation) as a preparatory limb of pūjā and mantra-japa—aligning the practitioner with Pāśupata orientation: fixing awareness on Pati to loosen pāśa and purify the paśu.