Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21
शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti
Para–Apara Ontology
सा वाचामीश्वरी शक्तिर्वागीशाख्या हि शूलिनः । या सा वर्णस्वरूपेण मातृकेपि विजृम्भते
sā vācāmīśvarī śaktirvāgīśākhyā hi śūlinaḥ | yā sā varṇasvarūpeṇa mātṛkepi vijṛmbhate
Diese souveräne Macht der Rede—wahrlich Vāgīśā genannt—ist die Śakti des dreizacktragenden Herrn Śiva. Sie nimmt die Gestalt der Buchstaben an und entfaltet sich, ja offenbart sich als Mātṛkā, die Matrix der Laute.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Lalitā
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that sacred speech (vāk) is not merely human language but Śiva’s own Śakti, manifesting as the phonemic Mātṛkā—implying that mantra is a direct mode of divine presence and liberation-oriented knowledge.
In Saguna worship, Śiva is approached through form and also through sound; this verse grounds mantra-recitation as Śiva’s Śakti itself, so japa and stotra become offerings to the Linga and a means to experience Śiva’s grace.
Mantra-sādhana—especially careful japa with awareness of sound (varṇa) as divine Mātṛkā—aligning speech, mind, and devotion toward Śiva (commonly expressed through Panchākṣarī practice).