Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12
देवस्तुतिः—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्वं, मायाशक्तिः, कर्मफलप्रदातृत्वं च
Devas’ Hymn: Śiva as Parabrahman, Māyā-Śakti, and Giver of Karmic Fruits
त्वं हि विश्वसृजां स्रष्टा धाता त्वं प्रपितामहः । त्रिगुणात्मा निर्गुणश्च प्रकृतेः पुरुषात्परः
tvaṃ hi viśvasṛjāṃ sraṣṭā dhātā tvaṃ prapitāmahaḥ | triguṇātmā nirguṇaśca prakṛteḥ puruṣātparaḥ
Wahrlich, Du bist der Schöpfer der Schöpfer des Universums; Du bist der Erhalter, der urerste Ahnherr. Du offenbarst Dich als Wesen der drei Guṇas und bist doch jenseits aller Guṇas—über Prakṛti und Puruṣa erhaben.
Sati (praising Lord Shiva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Doctrinal praise: Śiva is the source even of secondary creators (Brahmā etc.), simultaneously immanent in guṇas and transcendent beyond Prakṛti-Puruṣa.
Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as both saguna (triguṇātmā) and nirguṇa supports Siddhānta’s distinction of Pati from paśu and pāśa, leading to detachment from māyā.
Mantra: tvaṃ hi viśvasṛjāṃ sraṣṭā dhātā tvaṃ prapitāmahaḥ | triguṇātmā nirguṇaśca prakṛteḥ puruṣātparaḥ
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse declares Shiva as the supreme Pati: the source even of cosmic creators, immanent as the three guṇas for governance of the world, yet ultimately nirguṇa—transcending Prakṛti and Puruṣa—thus pointing the seeker toward liberation through devotion and right knowledge of Shiva’s supremacy.
Linga worship honors Shiva’s saguna accessibility (as the Lord who creates, sustains, and orders), while remembering that the same Lord is nirguṇa in essence. The Linga thus becomes a support for meditation that leads from form to the formless reality of Shiva.
Meditate on Shiva as both triguṇātmā and nirguṇa while chanting the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); perform Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application and japa with Rudrākṣa as aids to steady the mind on the Lord beyond Prakṛti and Puruṣa.