Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30
Śiva’s Freedom from Bondage and His Cosmic Support (शिवस्य अबन्धत्वं तथा सर्वाधिष्ठानत्वम्)
सर्वं तिसृभिरेवेदं मात्राभिर्निखिलं त्रिधा । अभिधाय शिवात्मानं बोधयत्यर्धमात्रया
sarvaṃ tisṛbhirevedaṃ mātrābhirnikhilaṃ tridhā | abhidhāya śivātmānaṃ bodhayatyardhamātrayā
ഈ സർവ്വവും ത്രിവിധമായി ഓംകാരത്തിന്റെ മൂന്ന് മാത്രകളാൽ പ്രസ്തുതമാകുന്നു; എന്നാൽ അർധമാത്രയാൽ ശിവൻ തന്നെയാണ് ആത്മസ്വരൂപൻ എന്ന ബോധം ഉദിക്കുന്നു.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: sarvaṃ tisṛbhirevedaṃ mātrābhirnikhilaṃ tridhā | abhidhāya śivātmānaṃ bodhayatyardhamātrayā
Type: gayatri
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that the manifest threefold cosmos is symbolized by the three mātrās of Oṃ (A-U-M), while the half-mātrā—silent transcendence—reveals Shiva as the innermost Self and the liberator beyond all categories.
The three mātrās can be contemplated as Saguna expression (name, form, and cosmic functions), while the half-mātrā points to Shiva’s Nirguna reality—like the Linga, which signifies the formless Absolute while still being worshiped through a sacred form.
Japa and dhyāna on Oṃ: chant A-U-M distinctly, then rest attention in the ensuing silence (ardha-mātrā). This aligns well with Shaiva practice alongside Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and inner stillness aimed at moksha.