Shloka 24
Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā
Interpretive Discipline
इत्युक्त्वा पुनरप्याह शिवस्तत्त्वत्रयस्य च । प्राणोस्मीत्यत्र पृथ्व्यादिगुणान्तग्रहणान्मुने
ityuktvā punarapyāha śivastattvatrayasya ca | prāṇosmītyatra pṛthvyādiguṇāntagrahaṇānmune
Nachdem er so gesprochen hatte, erläuterte Śiva erneut die Dreiheit der Wirklichkeiten. «Ich bin Prāṇa, der Lebenshauch», sagte er; und in dieser Aussage, o Weiser, ist die abschließende Einbeziehung der Eigenschaften zu verstehen, die mit dem Erdelement beginnen — also der elementaren und sinnlichen Attribute.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Mantra: prāṇo'smī
Role: teaching
FAQs
Śiva identifies himself with prāṇa to show his immanence as the sustaining power within all embodied beings, while also teaching that the entire field of elemental qualities (from earth onward) is encompassed under his lordship—clarifying the Shaiva Siddhanta triad of Pati (Śiva), paśu (the bound soul), and pāśa (bondage through tattvas/guṇas).
In Saguna worship, the Liṅga is revered as the visible support of the invisible Lord who pervades all. By declaring “I am prāṇa,” Śiva links inner experience (breath, life-force) with outer worship (Liṅga), teaching that Liṅga-pūjā should culminate in recognizing Śiva as the indwelling reality behind all elemental attributes.
A practical takeaway is prāṇa-centered japa and dhyāna: steady the breath, mentally offer the inhalation and exhalation to Śiva, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating that all bodily and elemental qualities are included and purified under Śiva’s grace.