Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17
शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti
Para–Apara Ontology
एकधा च द्विधा चैव तथा शतसहस्रधा । शक्तयः खलु भिद्यंते बहुधा व्यवहारतः
ekadhā ca dvidhā caiva tathā śatasahasradhā | śaktayaḥ khalu bhidyaṃte bahudhā vyavahārataḥ
ശക്തികൾ സത്യത്തിൽ ഒന്നായും രണ്ടായും, അതുപോലെ നൂറുകളും ആയിരങ്ങളും ആയിട്ടും പറയപ്പെടുന്നു; കാരണം ലോകവ്യവഹാരത്തിലും ശാസ്ത്രപ്രയോഗത്തിലും അവ പലവിധമായി വ്യത്യസ്തമായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that although Śiva’s Power is ultimately one (non-dual in essence), it is described as twofold (Śiva–Śakti) and as countless functions for the sake of explaining creation, bondage, grace, and liberation—supporting a practical path to moksha.
Linga worship approaches the One Reality through form: devotees recognize one Supreme (Śiva) while honoring His manifold Śaktis as the divine workings experienced in the cosmos—making Saguna worship a doorway to realizing the Nirguna truth.
Meditate during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) that all diverse experiences and divine functions are expressions of one Śiva-Śakti; this steadies the mind and turns multiplicity into a unified contemplation.