Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21
रुद्राविर्भावकारणम् — Causes and Pattern of Rudra’s Manifestation
Pratikalpa
ततः प्रभृति देवो ऽसौ न प्रसूते प्रजाः शुभाः । ऊर्ध्वरेताः स्थितः स्थाणुर्यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्
tataḥ prabhṛti devo 'sau na prasūte prajāḥ śubhāḥ | ūrdhvaretāḥ sthitaḥ sthāṇuryāvadābhūtasaṃplavam
Von da an brachte jener Deva keine glückverheißende Nachkommenschaft mehr hervor. Standhaft wie Sthāṇu verharrte er als ūrdhvareta—dessen zeugende Kraft nach oben gewandt und im Yoga sublimiert ist—bis zur Auflösung der Wesen in der kosmischen Flut des Pralaya.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: mahapralaya (ābhūtasaṃplava)
FAQs
It presents Shiva as Sthāṇu—the unwavering Pati—who withdraws outward creation and abides in yogic restraint, pointing seekers toward inner mastery and liberation beyond cyclic creation and dissolution.
The Linga signifies Shiva’s steady, formless-grounded presence supporting all manifestation; this verse emphasizes that same immovable Saguna symbol as the gateway to Nirguna realization—Shiva beyond procreation, time, and pralaya.
The takeaway is brahmacarya and upward channeling of prāṇa through yoga; in practice, japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on the Linga supports this inward sublimation.