Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7
शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman
उत्तरे पावकप्रख्यमुकारमृषि सत्तम । शीतांशुमण्डलप्रख्यं मकारं तस्य मध्यतः
uttare pāvakaprakhyamukāramṛṣi sattama | śītāṃśumaṇḍalaprakhyaṃ makāraṃ tasya madhyataḥ
يا خيرَ الرِّشيّين، في الجهة الشمالية يوجد المقطع «أو» متلألئًا كالنار؛ وفي وسطه تمامًا يوجد المقطع «ما» لامعًا كقرص القمر ذي الأشعة الباردة.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Contemplation of praṇava’s differentiated brilliance (fire/moon) is treated as an inner pilgrimage harmonizing tejas and soma—stabilizing the mind for higher realization.
Mantra: U (ukāra) in the northern part, fire-like; M (makāra) in the middle, moon-like.
Type: gayatri
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches mantra-dhyāna: the seeker contemplates specific syllables as luminous, purifying realities—fire-like “U” and moon-like “Ma”—so the mind becomes fit to approach Shiva (Pati) through disciplined worship.
By assigning radiant qualities and spatial placement to mantra-syllables, the Purana supports Saguna upāsanā—using form, direction, and light-imagery as aids—often applied in Linga-centered meditation where mantra and symbol are united.
Japa with visualization: repeat the mantra-syllables while meditating on “U” as fire-bright in the north and “Ma” as moon-bright in the center, integrating breath, attention, and reverence toward Shiva.