Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्
Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu
अमूर्ते यत्पराख्यं वै तस्य मूर्तिस्सदाशिवः । अर्वाचीनाः पराचीना ईश्वरं तं जगुर्बुधाः
amūrte yatparākhyaṃ vai tasya mūrtissadāśivaḥ | arvācīnāḥ parācīnā īśvaraṃ taṃ jagurbudhāḥ
Das, was im formlosen Zustand Parā, das Höchste, genannt wird—dessen offenbarte Gestalt ist Sadāśiva. Die Weisen, ob nach außen (weltlich) oder nach innen (transzendent) gewandt, verkünden Ihn als Īśvara, den Herrn.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It teaches that the transcendent, formless Supreme is not opposed to manifestation—He is known as Sadāśiva in a form that can be approached, while remaining the highest Reality. Thus, both contemplatives and devotional worshippers can reach the same Lord.
By affirming Sadāśiva as the manifest expression of the Supreme, the verse supports saguna-upāsanā—worship through form such as the Śiva-liṅga—while recognizing that the worshipped Lord is ultimately beyond form.
A practical takeaway is to unite inner meditation on the formless Shiva-tattva with outer worship of Sadāśiva—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and liṅga-pūjā—seeing both as one path to Īśvara.