Shloka 85
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
गुणत्रयं व्यपोह्याग्रे शिवं बोधयतीति सः । विश्वस्तानां तु शिष्याणां गुरुरित्यभिधीयते
guṇatrayaṃ vyapohyāgre śivaṃ bodhayatīti saḥ | viśvastānāṃ tu śiṣyāṇāṃ gururityabhidhīyate
He is called the Guru because, first removing the triad of guṇas (guṇa-traya), he awakens the knowledge of Śiva. For those disciples who have placed their trust in him, he is thus designated “Guru.”
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines the true Guru as the one who dispels guṇa-bound perception (sattva, rajas, tamas) and establishes the disciple in Śiva-knowledge—pointing to liberation (mokṣa) through right insight and grace, central to Śaiva Siddhānta.
Liṅga and saguna worship purify and steady the mind; the Guru then leads the disciple beyond guṇas to grasp Śiva’s supreme reality. Thus, outer worship and inner realization are linked: devotion matures into direct understanding of Śiva.
Practice mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined conduct and devotion under a Guru’s guidance, using worship to reduce rajas and tamas and to transcend even sattva into Śiva-centered awareness.