Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6
भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा
Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion
तत्र ज्ञानी प्रियतर ममरूपञ्च स स्मृतः । तस्मात्प्रियतरो नान्यः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
tatra jñānī priyatara mamarūpañca sa smṛtaḥ | tasmātpriyataro nānyaḥ satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham
Dort ist der Jñānī, der die Wahrheit erkennt, der Liebste; man gedenkt seiner auch als Meiner eigenen Gestalt. Darum ist niemand lieber als der Jñānī — wahrlich, wahrlich, so verkünde Ich es.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
The verse declares that the true knower of Shiva-tattva is most beloved to Shiva and is regarded as Shiva’s own form—pointing to liberation through right knowledge that culminates in intimate union with Pati (Shiva).
Linga and saguna-upāsanā purify the mind and concentrate devotion; when worship ripens into direct knowledge of Shiva as the supreme Lord, the devotee becomes a “jñānī,” whom Shiva calls His own form—showing worship’s culmination in realization.
Sustained Shiva-upāsanā that matures into contemplation (nididhyāsana) on Shiva-tattva—supported by Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined purity (e.g., bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa) to stabilize knowledge and devotion.