Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

तत्पूरुषं तथेशानं ब्रह्म ब्रह्मसु पञ्चसु । मूर्धानमपि लिंगस्य नादभागेष्वनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tatpūruṣaṃ tatheśānaṃ brahma brahmasu pañcasu | mūrdhānamapi liṃgasya nādabhāgeṣvanuttamam

Translation

Unter den fünf Brahmans (den fünffachen göttlichen Prinzipien) sind Tatpuruṣa und Īśāna wahrlich Brahman. Sie werden als das höchste „Haupt“ des Liṅga verkündet—das Vorzüglichste im Bereich des Nāda (des inneren heiligen Klanges).

Word by Word

• tat-pūruṣam: Tatpuruṣa (aspect/name)
• tat-pūruṣam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pūruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): 'that Puruṣa/Tatpuruṣa'; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc), Ekavacana

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb = 'likewise/also'

• īśānam: Īśāna (aspect/name)
• īśānam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• brahma: Brahma/Brahman
• brahma: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana (form = brahma)

• brahmasu: among the Brahmas
• brahmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Bahuvacana; 'among/in the brahmans'

• pañcasu: in the five
• pañcasu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral adjective) Saptamī (7th/Locative), Bahuvacana; agrees with brahmasu

• mūrdhānam: the head/top
• mūrdhānam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अपि)
• Form: Avyaya, particle 'also/even'

• liṅgasya: of the liṅga
• liṅgasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/Genitive), Ekavacana

• nāda-bhāgeṣu: in the sections of nāda
• nāda-bhāgeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāda (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound: 'parts/sections of nāda'; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative), Bahuvacana

• anuttamam: unsurpassed, supreme
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka possible; here Dvitīyā (Acc), Ekavacana agreeing with mūrdhānam (masc) = anuttamam

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Tatpurusha
• Ishana
• Nada
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It identifies Tatpuruṣa and Īśāna as the highest Brahman within the fivefold (Pañcabrahma) revelation of Śiva, teaching that the Liṅga’s ‘crown’ is realized as supreme consciousness expressed as Nāda—an inner, purifying awareness leading toward liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse links Saguna worship of the Liṅga to its inner metaphysical meaning: the Liṅga is not merely a form but a symbol whose summit points to Īśāna—the transcendent lordly consciousness—accessible through contemplative recognition of Śiva’s fivefold powers (Pañcabrahma).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Nāda-anusandhāna (meditation on inner sacred sound) while worshipping the Liṅga—mentally placing awareness at the ‘crown’ (mūrdhan) and integrating japa such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady listening-attention.