Shloka 6
प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
प्रणवार्थश्शिवः साक्षात्प्राधान्येन प्रकीर्त्तितः । श्रुतिषु स्मृतिशास्त्रेषु पुराणेष्वागमेषु च
praṇavārthaśśivaḥ sākṣātprādhānyena prakīrttitaḥ | śrutiṣu smṛtiśāstreṣu purāṇeṣvāgameṣu ca
The meaning of Praṇava (Oṁ) is verily Śiva Himself; this is proclaimed as primary and foremost in the Śrutis, in the Smṛti-śāstras, in the Purāṇas, and in the Āgamas.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: ॐ (Praṇava)
FAQs
It establishes that Oṁ is not merely a sound-symbol but directly signifies Pati—Lord Śiva—who is the supreme principle taught consistently across Vedic (Śruti), Smṛti, Purāṇa, and Śaiva Āgamic authorities.
Praṇava functions as the seed (bīja) that points to Śiva’s supreme reality; in practice it supports Saguna worship (Linga, mantra, pūjā) while also indicating the transcendent Śiva beyond form, harmonizing external Linga-upāsanā with inner contemplation.
Japa and dhyāna on Praṇava (Oṁ)—often joined with Śiva-mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī (Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya)—as a direct contemplative means to orient the mind toward Śiva as the highest truth.