Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27
सर्वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause
तदिदं त्रिविधं रूपं स्थूलं सूक्ष्मं ततः परम् । अस्मदाद्यमरैर्दृश्यं स्थूलं सूक्ष्मं तु योगिभिः
tadidaṃ trividhaṃ rūpaṃ sthūlaṃ sūkṣmaṃ tataḥ param | asmadādyamarairdṛśyaṃ sthūlaṃ sūkṣmaṃ tu yogibhiḥ
Diese Wirklichkeit hat eine dreifache Gestalt: das Grobe, das Feine und das, was darüber hinausgeht. Das Grobe ist den Göttern, beginnend mit uns, sichtbar; das Feine wird von den Yogins geschaut.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: Maps a graded ontology of access to Śiva—gross (ritual/vision), subtle (yogic perception), and transcendent (para). Supports integrated sādhana: pūjā + yoga + grace.
FAQs
It presents a Shaiva philosophical ladder of knowing: ordinary and divine vision grasps the gross manifestation, yogic insight penetrates the subtle, and the highest truth is the transcendent ‘beyond’—pointing toward Pati (Shiva) as ultimately surpassing all perceivable forms.
The gross aspect aligns with Saguna worship—seeing and serving Shiva through visible forms such as the Linga and icons—while the subtle points to inner contemplation; the ‘beyond’ indicates that even Linga-worship ultimately leads the devotee to Shiva’s transcendent reality.
It implies moving from outer worship to inner yoga: begin with disciplined Saguna upasana (Linga-puja with mantra such as the Panchakshara), then cultivate dhyana to perceive the subtle presence, aiming finally at absorption in the transcendent Shiva.