Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22
शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman
हिरण्यगर्भो लोकानां हेतुर्विश्वात्मको विराट् । अंतर्यामी परश्चेति कथ्यते कविभिश्शिवः
hiraṇyagarbho lokānāṃ heturviśvātmako virāṭ | aṃtaryāmī paraśceti kathyate kavibhiśśivaḥ
Die Weisen verkünden Śiva als Hiraṇyagarbha, die kausale Quelle der Welten; als Virāṭ, dessen Gestalt der Kosmos ist; als Antaryāmin, den inneren Lenker, der in allem wohnt; und als Para, den höchsten Transzendenten jenseits von allem.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It identifies Śiva as both immanent and transcendent—He is the world’s causal source (hetu), the cosmic totality (Virāṭ), the indwelling guide (antaryāmī), and the Supreme beyond all (para), establishing Śiva as Pati who grants liberation.
Linga worship trains the mind to see one Lord present in all forms: the Linga symbolizes the transcendent Para-Śiva, while devotion recognizes His immanence as Virāṭ and Antaryāmī within the universe and the heart.
Meditate with the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Śiva as the Antaryāmī in the heart and as Para beyond thought; offer simple Linga-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and steady japa for inner purification.