Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30
शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti
Para–Apara Ontology
स्थिरं चरं च यद्विश्वं सृजतीति विनिश्चयः । ज्ञानक्रिया चिकीर्षाभिस्तिसृभिस्स्वात्मशक्तिभिः
sthiraṃ caraṃ ca yadviśvaṃ sṛjatīti viniścayaḥ | jñānakriyā cikīrṣābhistisṛbhissvātmaśaktibhiḥ
It is firmly concluded that He brings forth this entire universe—both the immovable and the moving—by His own innate powers, threefold in nature: the power of knowledge, the power of action, and the power of will to accomplish.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: creative
FAQs
The verse establishes Shiva (Pati) as the conscious source of creation, showing that the universe arises through His intrinsic triad of powers—knowledge, will, and action—highlighting His sovereignty beyond both the moving and unmoving worlds.
In Linga worship, devotees honor Shiva as the formless-conscious principle who also manifests as the worshippable form; this verse supports Saguna worship by explaining that manifestation is driven by Shiva’s own Shaktis, while He remains the supreme inner Self.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the union of jñāna-śakti, kriyā-śakti, and icchā-śakti while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering bhakti with inner steadiness (sthira) amid life’s movement (cara).