Shloka 16
अद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्ते पुरुष-प्रकृति-विचारः
Puruṣa–Prakṛti Analysis in Advaita Śaiva Doctrine
तेभ्यश्चाकाशवाय्वग्निजलभूमिजनिः क्रमात् । विज्ञेया मुनिशार्दूल पञ्चभूतमितीष्यते
tebhyaścākāśavāyvagnijalabhūmijaniḥ kramāt | vijñeyā muniśārdūla pañcabhūtamitīṣyate
Daripada prinsip halus itu, menurut tertibnya, lahirlah ruang (ākāśa), angin, api, air dan bumi. Ketahuilah, wahai harimau para resi—itulah yang diajarkan sebagai “lima unsur agung” (pañcabhūta).
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: pañcabhūta-utpatti (gross element manifestation from tanmātras)
FAQs
It frames the pañcabhūtas as a sequential unfoldment from subtler causes, implying that the yogin should discern the difference between changing elemental nature (pāśa) and the Lord Shiva as Pati, the transcendent ground beyond them.
The Liṅga symbolizes Shiva as the support and source of all manifested categories, including the five elements; worship of Saguna Shiva purifies the mind to perceive that the elements arise and dissolve, while Shiva remains the unchanging reality.
A practical takeaway is pañcabhūta-śuddhi (inner purification of the elements) alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) to remember the body’s elemental nature and cultivate detachment.