Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 75
पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati
तस्यैते कथिताह्यर्थाः प्रकाशंते महात्मनः । अतश्च संक्षेपमिदं शृणुध्वं शिवः परस्तात्प्रकृतेश्च पुंसः
tasyaite kathitāhyarthāḥ prakāśaṃte mahātmanaḥ | ataśca saṃkṣepamidaṃ śṛṇudhvaṃ śivaḥ parastātprakṛteśca puṃsaḥ
ആ മഹാത്മാവിന് വിശദീകരിച്ച അർത്ഥങ്ങൾ വ്യക്തമായി പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നു. അതിനാൽ ഇപ്പോൾ സംക്ഷിപ്ത നിഗമനം കേൾക്കുക—ശിവൻ പ്രകൃതിയെയും അതീതൻ, പുരുഷനെയും അതീതൻ.
Suta Goswami (narrating philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya in the Vayu Samhita style discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a siddhānta-style siddhānta-vākya: Śiva is transcendent to both prakṛti and puruṣa.
Significance: Directs the pilgrim’s contemplation from temple-form to tattva: Śiva as Pati beyond the 24/25 categories, the goal of darśana.
FAQs
It summarizes a key Shaiva Siddhanta insight: Śiva (Pati) is not limited by matter (Prakṛti) nor by the bound soul-condition (Puruṣa as the individual). Liberation arises from knowing Śiva as the transcendent Lord who grants grace beyond both.
Linga worship provides a concrete, Saguna focus for devotion and meditation, yet the verse clarifies the metaphysical truth behind it: the worshipped Śiva ultimately transcends both material nature and the individual self, leading the devotee from form to the formless supremacy of Pati.
A practical takeaway is contemplative japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the inner reflection that Śiva is beyond Prakṛti and the limited ego-sense of the self, supporting detachment and steady devotion toward moksha.