Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44
अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace
नाग्नेरशुचिसंसर्गादशुचित्वमपेक्षते । अशुचेस्त्वग्निसंयोगाच्छुचित्वमपि जायते
nāgneraśucisaṃsargādaśucitvamapekṣate | aśucestvagnisaṃyogācchucitvamapi jāyate
Fire does not become impure by contact with what is impure; rather, the impure thing alone is regarded as impure. But when an impure substance comes into contact with fire, purity is truly produced, for it is purified by fire.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that true purity is intrinsic and transforming: like fire, the higher spiritual principle is not stained by contact, but instead purifies what approaches it—echoing Shaiva Siddhanta where Pati (Shiva) is ever-pure and liberates the bound soul (paśu) from impurity (mala).
In Linga-worship, Shiva is approached as the ever-pure purifier; offerings and devotees become sanctified by contact with the Linga and its rites, just as impurity is burned away by fire—indicating Saguna Shiva’s grace that transforms the devotee’s condition.
It supports purification-oriented Shaiva practice: maintaining sacred fire or lamp in worship, using bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a sign of burning impurities, and steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the inner ‘fire’ that refines the mind.
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