Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3
सर्गविभागवर्णनम्
Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings
पञ्चधा ऽवस्थितः सर्गो ध्यायतस्त्वभिमानिनः । सर्वतस्तमसातीव बीजकुम्भवदावृतः । बहिरन्तश्चाप्रकाशः स्तब्धो निःसंज्ञ एव च । तस्मात्तेषां वृता बुद्धिर्मुखानि करणानि च
pañcadhā 'vasthitaḥ sargo dhyāyatastvabhimāninaḥ | sarvatastamasātīva bījakumbhavadāvṛtaḥ | bahirantaścāprakāśaḥ stabdho niḥsaṃjña eva ca | tasmātteṣāṃ vṛtā buddhirmukhāni karaṇāni ca
Die Schöpfung stand in fünf Zuständen gegliedert, während jener Selbstgefällige nur betrachtend verweilte. Überall umhüllte sie dichtes Dunkel—wie ein Same, im Hülsenbecher eingeschlossen—ohne Licht nach außen wie nach innen; alles war erstarrt, gleichsam bewusstlos. Darum blieben ihr Verstand, ihre Münder sowie ihre Organe des Handelns und Wahrnehmens verhüllt und gehemmt.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Cosmic Event: pre-manifest/avyakta-like stage of sarga under tamas (concealment)
FAQs
It describes the tamasic veiling (pāśa) that covers buddhi and the sense-faculties, leaving beings inert and unaware; liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta begins when Shiva’s grace removes this darkness and restores inner illumination.
When inner and outer awareness are ‘unlit,’ the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva—through Linga worship—as a compassionate focus for awakening; the Linga signifies the light of Pati (Shiva) that dispels the darkness binding the pashu (soul).
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on Shiva as inner light, supported by purificatory Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha to counter tamas and stabilize awareness.