Shloka 37
प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva
जीवात्मनोर्मया सार्द्धमैक्यस्य प्रणवस्य च । वाच्यवाचकभावोत्र सम्वन्धस्समुदीरितः
jīvātmanormayā sārddhamaikyasya praṇavasya ca | vācyavācakabhāvotra samvandhassamudīritaḥ
„Hier wird zusammen mit Mir die Beziehung der Einheit zwischen dem individuellen Selbst und dem Praṇava (Oṁ) als die von ‚ausgedrückter Bedeutung‘ und ‚ausdrückendem Klang‘ erklärt.“
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: oṃ
Type: gayatri
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Praṇava (Oṁ) is not merely a sound but the revelatory sign of the highest reality; the jīva’s spiritual goal is realized through the correct understanding of the denoter–denoted link, where Oṁ points to Shiva as the supreme Self and ground of liberation.
Just as the Liṅga is a sacred sign (liṅga) that indicates Shiva beyond form, Praṇava is a sonic sign that indicates Shiva as the ultimate meaning. Saguna worship uses name, form, and mantra as valid pointers that lead the devotee toward the realization of Shiva’s transcendence.
Japa and contemplation of Oṁ (Praṇava) with bhāvanā of its meaning—Shiva as Pati and inner Self—so the practitioner unites sound (vācaka) with realization of the denoted (vācya), supporting yoga and mantra-sādhana.