Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
अतः स्मर्तानुभूतानामशेषज्ञेयगोचरः । अन्तर्यामीति वेदेषु वेदांतेषु च गीयते
ataḥ smartānubhūtānāmaśeṣajñeyagocaraḥ | antaryāmīti vedeṣu vedāṃteṣu ca gīyate
لذلك، لمن يذكره ويُدركه إدراكًا مباشرًا، يصير هو ميدانَ كلِّ ما يُعرَف—ساريًا في كل شيء وقريبًا بوصفه الشاهدَ الباطن. ومن ثمَّ تُنشدُه الفيدا والڤيدانتا باسم «أنتريامِن» (Antaryāmin)، الربِّ الساكنِ في الداخل.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva philosophical teaching as part of the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not site-specific; identifies Śiva as Antaryāmin praised in Veda and Vedānta, aligning purāṇic Śaiva theism with Upaniṣadic inner-ruler doctrine.
Mantra: अन्तर्यामीति वेदेषु वेदान्तेषु च गीयते
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva is not only worshipped externally but is also the Antaryāmin—the indwelling Lord who illumines all knowledge. Through remembrance and direct realization, the seeker recognizes Shiva as the inner witness and ruler of all experience, leading toward liberation.
Linga-worship supports Saguna devotion by giving the mind a sacred focus, but this verse points to the deeper fruition: realizing that the same Shiva worshipped in the Linga abides within as the Antaryāmin. External worship matures into internal contemplation and recognition of Shiva’s immanence.
Meditate on Shiva as the inner witness while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), aligning breath and attention with the heart-space. Let remembrance (smaraṇa) become steady inner absorption, seeing all thoughts and perceptions as known in Shiva’s presence.