Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39
द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)
कालो जात्यंजनप्रख्यः पुरुषः स्फटिकोपमः । त्रिगुणो राजसश्चैव तामसः सात्त्विकस्तथा
kālo jātyaṃjanaprakhyaḥ puruṣaḥ sphaṭikopamaḥ | triguṇo rājasaścaiva tāmasaḥ sāttvikastathā
കാലൻ ജന്മസിദ്ധമായ അഞ്ജനത്തെപ്പോലെ കറുത്തവനായി പറയപ്പെടുന്നു; പുരുഷൻ സ്ഫടികംപോലെ നിർമ്മലൻ. ഗുണഭേദത്തിൽ അവൻ ത്രിവിധൻ—രാജസ, താമസ, സാത്ത്വിക।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: The verse’s Kāla-description aligns with Mahākāla theology: time appears as dark/terrifying, yet is ultimately mastered by Śiva, who also reveals the pure consciousness (Puruṣa) beyond guṇas.
Significance: Contemplation of Kāla and Puruṣa at Mahākāla is used to cultivate dispassion toward guṇa-driven life and steadiness in the pursuit of Śiva’s grace.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It contrasts kāla (the dark, binding flow of time that drives change) with puruṣa (the clear, witnessing consciousness), then explains how experience appears in three modes through sattva, rajas, and tamas—pointing the seeker toward Shiva as the Lord who transcends these bindings.
In Linga worship, the devotee meditates on Shiva as the pure, crystal-like consciousness within all states, while recognizing that worldly perception shifts by the guṇas; Saguna Shiva is approached through sattvic worship to purify the mind, leading toward realization of Shiva beyond kāla and guṇa.
Cultivate sattva through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Shiva as the transparent witness; this reduces tamas and rajas and supports inner detachment from the pressure of time (kāla).