Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
त्रिमूर्तिसाम्यं तथा महेश्वरस्य परमार्थकारणत्वम् | Equality of the Trimūrti and Maheśvara as the Supreme Cause
गुणाः कालवशादेव भवंति विषमाः समाः । गुणसाम्ये लयो ज्ञेयो वैषम्ये सृष्टिरुच्यते
guṇāḥ kālavaśādeva bhavaṃti viṣamāḥ samāḥ | guṇasāmye layo jñeyo vaiṣamye sṛṣṭirucyate
കാലത്തിന്റെ അധീനതയിൽ ഗുണങ്ങൾ ചിലപ്പോൾ സമവും ചിലപ്പോൾ വിഷമവും ആകുന്നു. ഗുണസാമ്യത്തിൽ ലയമെന്നു ഗ്രഹിക്കണം; വൈഷമ്യത്തിൽ സൃഷ്ടിയെന്നു പറയുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Mahākāla as Lord of Time: the liṅga is famed for granting victory over death/time; Purāṇic traditions narrate Śiva’s protection of Ujjayinī and establishment as Mahākāleśvara.
Significance: Worship is sought for kāla-śamana (pacifying adverse time), protection, and steadiness of mind; especially revered for early-morning rites.
Cosmic Event: guṇa-sāmya (laya) and guṇa-vaiṣamya (sṛṣṭi) under kāla
FAQs
It teaches that cosmic manifestation and withdrawal depend on the state of the guṇas, while Time operates as the regulating power; from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, this points to the ordered functioning of māyā under the Lord’s sovereignty, urging the seeker to transcend guṇic fluctuation toward liberation.
Linga worship centers the mind on Shiva as the Lord beyond guṇas; by contemplating creation (vaiṣamya) and dissolution (sāmya) as governed processes, the devotee turns from changing guṇas to the steady refuge of Saguna Shiva in worship, and ultimately to the Nirguna reality indicated by the Linga.
A practical takeaway is guṇa-observation and guṇa-samatā through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath and mental stillness, using vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa as supports for recollection of Shiva while reducing rajas-tamas agitation.