Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 59
शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti
Para–Apara Ontology
मंतव्यवस्तुतां धत्ते सदा देवी महेश्वरी । मंता स एव विश्वात्मा महादेवो महेश्वरः
maṃtavyavastutāṃ dhatte sadā devī maheśvarī | maṃtā sa eva viśvātmā mahādevo maheśvaraḥ
ദേവി മഹേശ്വരി എപ്പോഴും ധ്യാനയോഗ്യമായ തത്ത്വത്തിന്റെ സത്ത ധരിക്കുന്നു; ധ്യാനിക്കുന്നവൻ അവൻ തന്നേ—വിശ്വാത്മാവായ മഹാദേവൻ, മഹേശ്വരൻ.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it teaches contemplative ontology: Devī sustains the ‘contemplatable reality’ (mantavya-vastutā), while Śiva is the contemplator (mantā) as viśvātmā—pointing to grace-born realization.
Significance: Frames meditation as Śiva–Śakti cooperation: the object of contemplation is Śakti’s supported manifestation, but the power to truly contemplate and be liberated is Śiva’s anugraha; useful as a dhyāna-vākya before japa/meditation.
Shakti Form: Lalitā
Role: liberating
FAQs
It presents a Shaiva Siddhanta-aligned vision where Śakti (Maheśvarī) sustains the field of contemplation, while Śiva (Mahēśvara) is the ultimate Knower—the inner Self of all—guiding the seeker from objects of thought to the supreme Subject.
In Linga worship, the devotee approaches the contemplatable form (saguna support) upheld by Devi’s power, while recognizing that the true contemplator and indwelling reality is Mahadeva; thus ritual leads into inner contemplation of Maheśvara as Viśvātmā.
Meditate with the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), holding the Linga (or Śiva’s form) as the object of contemplation, and inwardly abide as the witness, affirming Mahadeva as the universal Self; support with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady japa.