Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
अयमेव हि संसारी मायया मोहितः पशुः । शिवज्ञानविहीनो हि नानाकर्मविमूढधीः
ayameva hi saṃsārī māyayā mohitaḥ paśuḥ | śivajñānavihīno hi nānākarmavimūḍhadhīḥ
Sesungguhnya, makhluk yang berkelana dalam saṃsāra ini ialah “paśu”, jiwa yang terikat, diperdaya oleh Māyā. Tanpa pengetahuan tentang Śiva, akalnya menjadi keliru, tersesat di tengah pelbagai karma yang tidak terhitung.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
It defines the saṃsārī jīva as paśu (the bound soul) whose bondage is sustained by Māyā and ignorance of Śiva; liberation arises when Śiva-jñāna dawns and karma-driven confusion is transcended.
Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship disciplines the mind and turns the bound paśu away from scattered karmas toward devotion and right knowledge; through grace, such worship matures into Śiva-jñāna that cuts Māyā’s delusion.
Shift from mere multiplicity of actions to Śiva-centered sādhanā—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-abhiṣeka with inner remembrance, and wearing/using rudrākṣa and bhasma as supports for steady awareness of Śiva.