Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा
Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions
यावदुच्छ्वसितं वक्त्रे सदाशिवसमुद्भवम् । पश्चाच्छक्तिं समभ्येति यावन्निश्वसितं भवेत्
yāvaducchvasitaṃ vaktre sadāśivasamudbhavam | paścācchaktiṃ samabhyeti yāvanniśvasitaṃ bhavet
Tant que l’inspiration s’élève dans la bouche—née de Sadāśiva—elle atteint ensuite Śakti, et se poursuit jusqu’à ce que l’expiration advienne.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: Microcosm–macrocosm mapping: cosmic process expressed as prāṇa (inhalation/exhalation) from Sadāśiva to Śakti
FAQs
It presents breath as a living sign of the Sadāśiva–Śakti principle: prāṇa arises from Śiva (pure consciousness) and moves toward Śakti (power of manifestation), indicating that ordinary life-breath can be contemplated as a sacred Śiva-centered process.
In Śaiva practice, the Liṅga symbolizes Śiva as the still center, while Śakti is the dynamic power around it; this verse mirrors that dynamic—breath emerging from Śiva-principle and moving through Śakti—supporting Saguna worship where the devotee meditates on Śiva’s presence in every function of life.
Breath-awareness (prāṇānusandhāna) with japa: mentally align inhalation and exhalation with Shiva-remembrance—such as gentle repetition of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—without strain, treating each breath as Śiva–Śakti movement.