Shloka 22
पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्
Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman
यो देवो जगतां कर्ता भर्ता हर्ता गुणान्वितः । निर्गुणश्शिवसंज्ञश्च स विज्ञेयः कथम्भवेत्
yo devo jagatāṃ kartā bhartā hartā guṇānvitaḥ | nirguṇaśśivasaṃjñaśca sa vijñeyaḥ kathambhavet
ജഗത്തിന്റെ കർത്താവും ഭർത്താവും ഹർത്താവുമായ ആ ദേവൻ ഗുണങ്ങളോടു ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടിട്ടും നിർഗുണൻ, ‘ശിവ’ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധൻ—അവനെ തത്ത്വമായി എങ്ങനെ അറിയാം?
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, framing the theological question of Saguna and Nirguna Shiva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Articulates the core Śaiva Siddhānta paradox: Śiva is both transcendent (nirguṇa) and immanent as Lord of the guṇas for cosmic governance; pilgrimage/ritual is meaningful when it leads from saguṇa upāsanā to nirguṇa-jñāna by Śiva’s grace.
Type: stotra
Cosmic Event: Implied cyclical cosmology: creation–maintenance–withdrawal under guṇic manifestation, with Śiva as nirguṇa ground.
FAQs
It highlights the central Shaiva doctrine that Shiva is immanent as the Lord of cosmic functions (creation, maintenance, dissolution) yet transcendent as nirguṇa—knowable not merely by logic, but by right understanding, devotion, and inner realization of Shiva-tattva.
The verse reconciles Saguna worship (approaching Shiva as the Lord who governs the cosmos) with Nirguna truth (Shiva beyond all limiting qualities). Linga worship supports this: the Linga signifies the formless, nirguṇa Supreme while allowing a sacred focus for devotion and contemplation.
Contemplate Shiva as both immanent and transcendent while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya). In practice, combine japa with Shiva-pūjā (Linga abhiṣeka), and steady meditation on Shiva beyond the guṇas to mature from form-based devotion to inner realization.