शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice
संसारस्येश्वरो नित्यं समूलस्य निवर्तकः । संसारवैद्य इत्युक्तः सर्वतत्त्वार्थवेदिभिः
saṃsārasyeśvaro nityaṃ samūlasya nivartakaḥ | saṃsāravaidya ityuktaḥ sarvatattvārthavedibhiḥ
هو على الدوام ربُّ السَّمْسارا، وهو الذي يردّ السَّمْسارا ويزيلها مع أصلها. لذلك فإن العارفين بمعاني جميع التَتْفَات يسمّونه «طبيب السَّمْسارا».
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
The verse presents Shiva as Pati—the eternal Lord over saṃsāra—who not only alleviates suffering but removes bondage at its root (the causal pasha), leading the soul (pashu) toward moksha.
Worship of the Shiva-Linga is devotion to the accessible Saguna form of the same Supreme Lord who transcends all tattvas; through Linga-puja, the devotee seeks Shiva’s grace to cure the ‘disease’ of saṃsāra by cutting its root.
Take Shiva as the inner physician through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and steady meditation on Shiva; as a supportive Shaiva practice, apply Tripundra (bhasma) with remembrance of liberation from pasha.