Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43
अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace
अग्नावपि समाविष्टं ताम्रं खलु सकालिकम् । इति नाग्निरसौ दुष्येत्ताम्रसंसर्गकारणात्
agnāvapi samāviṣṭaṃ tāmraṃ khalu sakālikam | iti nāgnirasau duṣyettāmrasaṃsargakāraṇāt
അഗ്നിയിൽ ഇടപ്പെട്ട താമ്രവും തീർച്ചയായും കരിമം പിടിക്കുന്നു; എന്നാൽ താമ്രസമ്പർക്കം മൂലം അഗ്നി ദൂഷിതമാകുന്നില്ല. അതുപോലെ ലോകസംബന്ധം കൊണ്ടും പരമേശ്വരൻ—പതി—ഒരിക്കലും മലിനനാകുന്നില്ല।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It uses the fire-and-copper analogy to teach that Shiva, the Pati (Supreme Lord), remains intrinsically pure and unconditioned, even while pervading and governing the realm of pasha (bondage) and pashu (bound souls).
The Linga signifies Shiva’s stainless consciousness: devotees worship Saguna Shiva through the Linga while understanding that His essential nature is untouched by material qualities—just as fire is not stained by what it heats.
Meditate on Shiva as the inner fire of awareness (caitanya-agni) while applying Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating the insight that the Lord is ever pure and liberating.