Shloka 45
Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
चैतन्यमिति विश्वस्य सर्वज्ञानक्रियात्मकम् । स्वातन्त्र्यं तत्स्वभावो यः स आत्मा परिकीर्त्तितः
caitanyamiti viśvasya sarvajñānakriyātmakam | svātantryaṃ tatsvabhāvo yaḥ sa ātmā parikīrttitaḥ
That which is called Consciousness—pervading the universe as the very essence of all knowing and all activity—and whose inherent nature is Freedom (self-sovereignty): that is proclaimed to be the Ātman.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasha Samhita teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It defines the Ātman as universal Consciousness—the inner basis of knowing and doing—whose true mark is svātantrya (spiritual freedom), pointing the seeker toward liberation through realizing the Self as Shiva’s light within.
Linga worship trains the mind to recognize Shiva as the all-pervading conscious principle; devotion to Saguna Shiva matures into insight that the same Shiva is the Ātman, the conscious power behind all cognition and action.
Meditate on Shiva as pure caitanya during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), observing thoughts and actions as arising within Consciousness, cultivating inner freedom (svātantrya) through steady remembrance.