Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19
सर्वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause
उत्तरोत्तरभूतानामुत्तरश्च निरुत्तरः । अनन्तानन्तसन्दोहमकरंदमधुव्रतः
uttarottarabhūtānāmuttaraśca niruttaraḥ | anantānantasandohamakaraṃdamadhuvrataḥ
તેઓ સર્વ ઉત્તરોત્તર ભૂતો કરતાં પણ ‘ઉત્તર’ છે અને જેમની ઉપર કશું નથી એવા નિરુત્તર તત્ત્વ છે. તેઓ અનંત-અનંતનો સંઘ છે; તેમના આનંદ-મધુનું પાન કરનાર મધુવ્રત ભક્તો માટે તેઓ મકરંદ-રસરૂપ છે.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it is a devotional-metaphysical climax portraying Śiva as anuttara (niruttara) and as the bliss-essence sought by devotees—aligning with Siddhānta’s view that mokṣa is Śiva’s grace and the soul’s enjoyment of Śiva’s bliss in His presence.
Significance: Encourages bhakti as ‘madhuvrata’ (bee-like savoring): repeated darśana, nāma-japa, and temple-sevā to taste the ‘makaranda’ of Śiva-anubhava.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It declares Shiva as Pati—the unsurpassed Supreme beyond all hierarchies—while also affirming His immanent sweetness experienced by devotees as bliss-nectar, pointing to liberation through knowing and tasting His presence.
Though Shiva is described as niruttara (beyond all), the ‘nectar’ imagery supports Saguna worship: the Linga becomes a tangible focus through which devotees approach the transcendent Lord and experience His grace.
Adopt bee-like single-pointed devotion: daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on Shiva/Linga, seeking the ‘essence’ of awareness rather than external distraction.