श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
पशुपाशपतिज्ञानं ज्ञानमित्यभिधीयते । षडध्वशुद्धिर्विधिना गुर्वधीना क्रियोच्यते । वर्णाश्रमप्रयुक्तस्य मयैव विहितस्य च । ममार्चनादिधर्मस्य चर्या चर्येति कथ्यते
paśupāśapatijñānaṃ jñānamityabhidhīyate | ṣaḍadhvaśuddhirvidhinā gurvadhīnā kriyocyate | varṇāśramaprayuktasya mayaiva vihitasya ca | mamārcanādidharmasya caryā caryeti kathyate
পশু, পাশ আৰু পতি—এই ত্ৰয়ৰ বোধকেই ‘জ্ঞান’ বুলি কোৱা হয়। বিধি অনুসাৰে, গুৰুৰ অধীনত, ষড়ধ্বৰ শুদ্ধি সম্পাদন কৰাক ‘ক্ৰিয়া’ বোলা হয়। আৰু বৰ্ণ-আশ্ৰম অনুসাৰে, মোৰেই বিধিত, মোৰ অর্চনাদি ধৰ্মৰ অনুশীলনক ‘চৰ্যা’ বুলি কোৱা হয়।
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Programmatic Siddhānta definition: jñāna as understanding Pati–Paśu–Pāśa; kriyā as ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi under guru; caryā as Śiva-enjoined worship within varṇāśrama—mapping the liberation curriculum.
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
It defines a Shaiva Siddhanta framework: true knowledge is knowing the soul (paśu), its bondage (pāśa), and Shiva as Lord (Pati), while liberation is supported by Guru-guided discipline (caryā) and purifying rites (kriyā).
By naming “My duties of worship (arcana) and the like,” it grounds spiritual progress in Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-arcana and prescribed observances—performed within dharma and guided toward the realization of Shiva as Pati.
It emphasizes Guru-led kriyā (purificatory ritual discipline) and caryā (daily worship such as Shiva-arcana); practitioners may integrate mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara), bhasma/tripuṇḍra, and regulated conduct according to their āśrama.