Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च
Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn
ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु तात चरित्रं तत् तव माया विमोहिनी । तदधीनं जगत्सर्वं सुखदुःखादितत्परम्
brahmovāca | śṛṇu tāta caritraṃ tat tava māyā vimohinī | tadadhīnaṃ jagatsarvaṃ sukhaduḥkhāditatparam
Brahmā sprach: „Höre, lieber Sohn, jene Begebenheit: Deine Māyā (māyā) ist betörend und verwirrend. Von ihr hängt die ganze Welt ab, stets auf Erfahrungen wie Freude und Schmerz gerichtet.“
Brahma
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Establishes māyā as the binding principle (pāśa) that makes the world-cycle of sukha/duḥkha appear compelling; pilgrimage and worship are framed as means to transcend this delusion through Śiva’s grace.
FAQs
It identifies māyā as the deluding power that keeps beings absorbed in dualities like pleasure and pain—pointing to the Shaiva Siddhanta view that liberation comes by turning from such bondage (pāśa) toward the Lord (Pati).
When the mind is ruled by māyā, it chases sukha-duḥkha; Saguna worship—especially Linga worship—gathers the mind into devotion and discipline, preparing it to see beyond appearances and approach Shiva as the liberating Reality.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with simple Linga-abhiṣeka and/or wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra-bhasma to cultivate detachment from pleasure-pain and reduce māyā’s sway.