Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27
शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman
स्वतंत्रमपरे प्राहुरस्वतंत्रं परे विदुः । घोरमित्यपरे प्राहुः सौम्यमेव परे विदुः
svataṃtramapare prāhurasvataṃtraṃ pare viduḥ | ghoramityapare prāhuḥ saumyameva pare viduḥ
Certains proclament qu’Il est absolument indépendant (svatantra) ; d’autres Le tiennent pour dépendant (asvatantra). Certains Le disent terrible (ghora) ; d’autres Le connaissent doux et de bon augure (saumya).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
FAQs
It shows that Shiva, the supreme Pati, is spoken of in seemingly opposite ways because devotees perceive Him through different standpoints—His transcendent nature and His compassionate engagement with the world.
In Linga and saguna worship, Shiva is approached as saumya—grace-giving and accessible—yet He is also ghoram as the remover of bondage (pāśa) and destroyer of impurities; both aspects belong to the same Lord.
Meditate on Shiva as both ghora and saumya while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating reverence (for His power) and surrender (to His grace) as complementary attitudes.