Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30
त्रिमूर्तिसाम्यं तथा महेश्वरस्य परमार्थकारणत्वम् | Equality of the Trimūrti and Maheśvara as the Supreme Cause
आदित्वादादिदेवो ऽसावजातत्वादजः स्मृतः । पाति यस्मात्प्रजाः सर्वाः प्रजापतिरिति स्मृतः
āditvādādidevo 'sāvajātatvādajaḥ smṛtaḥ | pāti yasmātprajāḥ sarvāḥ prajāpatiriti smṛtaḥ
Parce qu’Il est le Premier, on se souvient de Lui comme de la Divinité Primordiale ; parce qu’Il est non-né, on se souvient de Lui comme « Aja » (l’Inengendré). Et parce qu’Il protège toutes les créatures, on se souvient de Lui comme « Prajāpati » (Seigneur des êtres).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse identifies Shiva as Pati—the primordial, unborn Lord—whose essential nature is to protect and govern all beings. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this points to Shiva as the independent Supreme who sustains the bound souls (paśu) and guides them toward liberation.
By naming Shiva as Ādideva, Aja, and Prajāpati, the verse provides contemplative names for Saguna worship—qualities devotees can meditate upon in the Śiva-liṅga. The liṅga becomes the focal support for realizing the unborn, beginningless Lord who protects all.
Japa and dhyāna using these epithets—especially with the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivates devotion and surrender to Shiva as protector (Prajāpati). A simple practice is to offer water to the liṅga while mentally repeating “Aja, Ādideva, Prajāpati” alongside the mantra.