Shloka 10
Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
आहोस्वि दात्मनोरूपं महानत्रापि संशयः । द्वयमेतद्धि सर्व्वेषां विवादास्पदमद्भुतम्
āhosvi dātmanorūpaṃ mahānatrāpi saṃśayaḥ | dvayametaddhi sarvveṣāṃ vivādāspadamadbhutam
Or else, concerning the very form of the Supreme Self, a great doubt remains here as well. Indeed, this pair of issues becomes, for everyone, a wondrous ground for dispute.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights a key spiritual obstacle: confusion about the Supreme Reality’s nature—whether the Highest is formless (nirguṇa) or also approachable in form (saguṇa). Shaiva Siddhanta resolves this by affirming Shiva as the Supreme Pati who is transcendent yet compassionately accessible through worship.
The verse points to the common debate about “form.” In Shaiva practice, the Shiva Linga is a sacred support (ālambana) for devotion and contemplation—honoring Shiva’s transcendence while enabling focused worship, thus bridging nirguṇa understanding and saguṇa upāsanā.
A practical takeaway is steady Shiva-upāsanā to resolve doubt—especially japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplative inquiry into Shiva as the Supreme Self, supported by traditional aids like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where prescribed.