Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3
षडध्व-शुद्धिः
Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path
निवृत्त्याद्याः कलाः पञ्च कलाध्वा कथ्यते बुधैः । व्याप्ताः कलाभिरितरे त्वध्वानः पञ्च पञ्चभिः
nivṛttyādyāḥ kalāḥ pañca kalādhvā kathyate budhaiḥ | vyāptāḥ kalābhiritare tvadhvānaḥ pañca pañcabhiḥ
Die Weisen verkünden, dass der «Pfad der Kalā» aus fünf Kalās besteht, beginnend mit Nivṛtti. Die übrigen Pfade (adhvans) sind jeweils von diesen Kalās durchdrungen—fünf Pfade, jeder in fünffacher Weise.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: creative
FAQs
It frames liberation as a graded purification: the five Kalās (starting with Nivṛtti) are subtle powers that structure and pervade the cosmic ‘paths’ (adhvans), indicating that bondage and release are understood through an ordered Shaiva map leading the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).
In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna worship (such as Linga-upāsanā) disciplines body, speech, and mind so the soul can traverse these pervading kalās—moving from outward ritual and mantra into subtler purification—culminating in Shiva’s grace beyond limitation.
A practical takeaway is systematic sādhanā: japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inner restraint (nivṛtti), supported by Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and meditative contemplation on Shiva as the indwelling Lord who pervades all categories.