Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman
वामं कपोलमूकारो लृ लॄ नासापुटे उभे । एकारश्चोष्ठ ऊर्द्ध्वश्च ह्यैकारस्त्वधरो विभोः
vāmaṃ kapolamūkāro lṛ lṝ nāsāpuṭe ubhe | ekāraścoṣṭha ūrddhvaśca hyaikārastvadharo vibhoḥ
‘ഉ’ അക്ഷരം ഇടത്തേ കവിള്; ‘ലൃ’യും ‘ലൄ’യും രണ്ട് നാസാരന്ധ്രങ്ങൾ. ‘ഏ’ മേൽചുണ്ട്, ‘ഐ’ സർവ്വവ്യാപിയായ പ്രഭുവിന്റെ കീഴ്ചുണ്ട്.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā teaching as received in the Purāṇic discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Cosmic Event: Cosmic embodiment of phonemes: mātṛkā as the structuring power (śakti) of manifestation.
FAQs
It teaches a contemplative “mantra-body” vision: sacred sound (varna) is not separate from Śiva’s form, so meditation on phonemes becomes inner worship that steadies the mind in devotion and leads toward liberation.
It supports Saguna upāsanā by giving a concrete visualization—Śiva’s face and features are contemplated through syllables—helping devotees internalize Linga-worship as an inward presence rather than only an external rite.
A nyāsa-style meditation: silently place/visualize specific syllables on Śiva’s features (cheek, nostrils, lips) while maintaining devotion, often alongside japa of Śiva-mantras and focused breath awareness.