Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 50
शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti
Para–Apara Ontology
मरीचिभगवान्रुद्रः संभूतिश्शर्ववल्लभा । गंगाधरो ऽंगिरा ज्ञेयः स्मृतिः साक्षादुमा स्मृता
marīcibhagavānrudraḥ saṃbhūtiśśarvavallabhā | gaṃgādharo 'ṃgirā jñeyaḥ smṛtiḥ sākṣādumā smṛtā
Know the venerable Marīci to be Rudra, and Saṃbhūti to be the beloved of Śarva (Śiva). Understand Gaṅgādhara, the Bearer of the Gaṅgā, to be Aṅgirā; and remember Smṛti as none other than Umā herself.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse functions as a ‘devatā-āveśa/identity’ mapping where Prajāpati-sages and their consorts are declared manifestations of Śiva-Śakti.
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse teaches a Shaiva vision of the cosmos where Pati (Shiva) and Shakti (Uma) pervade sacred lineages and divine functions, revealing that revered sages and personified powers can be understood as manifestations or reflections of Shiva’s and Uma’s presence.
By naming Rudra/Śarva/Gaṅgādhara and linking them with well-known sages, the text supports Saguna-upāsanā—contemplating Shiva with attributes and divine acts—often centered in practice through Linga worship as the accessible, concentrated symbol of Pati.
A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa and dhyāna: meditate on Shiva as Gaṅgādhara together with Umā, repeating the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while holding the insight that Shiva-Shakti pervade all sacred orders.