Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6
शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman
विद्या ऽविद्यात्मकं चैव विश्वं विश्वगुरोर्विभोः । रूपमेव न संदेहो विश्वं तस्य वशे यतः
vidyā 'vidyātmakaṃ caiva viśvaṃ viśvagurorvibhoḥ | rūpameva na saṃdeho viśvaṃ tasya vaśe yataḥ
ഈ സമസ്ത വിശ്വം—വിദ്യയും അവിദ്യയും ഉൾക്കൊള്ളുന്നതു—വിശ്വഗുരുവായ സർവ്വവ്യാപി പ്രഭുവിന്റെ തന്നെ രൂപമാണ്; സംശയമില്ല, കാരണം ലോകം മുഴുവൻ അവന്റെ അധീനത്തിലാണ്.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that both liberating knowledge (vidyā) and binding ignorance (avidyā) operate within Shiva’s cosmic domain, and that the universe is not outside Him—Shiva alone is the sovereign Pati who governs all.
If the whole universe is Shiva’s form and under His rule, the Linga becomes the focused, Saguna support (ālambana) for worship—training the mind to recognize Shiva’s presence in all names and forms while seeking His transcendent grace.
Meditate on Shiva as Vibhu (all-pervading Lord) while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating that both clarity (vidyā) and delusion (avidyā) are mastered by His grace, and offer all experiences inwardly to Him.