Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 46

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

चंद्रार्धशेखरश्चंद्रो रोहिणी रुद्रवल्लभा । ईशानः परमेशानस्तदार्या परमेश्वरी

Transliteration

caṃdrārdhaśekharaścaṃdro rohiṇī rudravallabhā | īśānaḥ parameśānastadāryā parameśvarī

Translation

Er ist Candrārdhaśekhara, der Herr, dessen Scheitel mit der Mondsichel geschmückt ist; und er ist auch der Mond selbst. Rohiṇī ist die Geliebte Rudras. Er ist Īśāna, der höchste Herr (Parameśāna); und seine edle Gemahlin ist die höchste Göttin (Parameśvarī).

Word by Word

• caṃdra-ardha-śekharaḥ: (he who has) the half-moon as crest
• caṃdra-ardha-śekharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṃdra (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + śekhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘caṃdrasya ardhasya śekharaḥ’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (and)

• caṃdraḥ: Candra (Moon)
• caṃdraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṃdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rohiṇī: Rohiṇī
• rohiṇī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rudra-vallabhā: beloved of Rudra
• rudra-vallabhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/adjectival to rohiṇī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + vallabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘rudrasya vallabhā’

• īśānaḥ: Īśāna
• īśānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• parameśānaḥ: the supreme Lord (Īśāna)
• parameśānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘paramaḥ īśānaḥ’

• tad-āryā: that noble lady
• tad-āryā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + āryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘sā āryā’ (that noble lady)

• parameśvarī: the supreme Goddess
• parameśvarī: Karta (कर्ता/subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘paramā īśvarī’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga account; the verse foregrounds Īśāna as Parameśāna and Parameśvarī as his śakti—key Siddhānta language for the Lord who grants grace (anugraha) and right knowledge.

Significance: Supports contemplative pilgrimage: seeing the moon (candra) and its beloved Rohiṇī as reflections of Śiva-Śakti, cultivating īśvara-bhāva and surrender.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Chandra
• Rohini
• Rudra
• Ishana
• Parameshvari

FAQs

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

The verse affirms Śiva as both transcendent Lord (Parameśāna/Īśāna) and immanent presence (identified even with the Moon), while also establishing Śakti as inseparable from him as Parameśvarī—together indicating Pati (the Lord) as the source of grace that releases the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

By naming Śiva through iconic epithets like Candrārdhaśekhara and Īśāna, it supports saguna-upāsanā: devotees contemplate the Linga as Śiva’s accessible form while remembering his attributes and his unity with the Goddess, through whom divine grace becomes operative in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Candrārdhaśekhara with Devī as Parameśvarī while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); worship may be accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva marks of consecration and remembrance.