Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्
Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu
परिकल्येति तां मूर्तिमैश्वरीं शुद्धरूपिणीम् । अद्वितीयमनाद्यंतं सर्वाभासं चिदात्मकम् । अंतर्दधे पराख्यं यद्ब्रह्म सर्वगमव्ययम्
parikalyeti tāṃ mūrtimaiśvarīṃ śuddharūpiṇīm | advitīyamanādyaṃtaṃ sarvābhāsaṃ cidātmakam | aṃtardadhe parākhyaṃ yadbrahma sarvagamavyayam
Setelah menzahirkan rupa ilahi itu—Īśvarī, yang berwujud kesucian sempurna—maka Brahman Tertinggi yang disebut Parā pun bersembunyi. Dialah Hakikat tidak berdua, tanpa awal dan tanpa akhir, landasan tempat segala penampakan bersinar, berinti Kesedaran, meliputi segalanya dan tidak binasa.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: parikalyeti tāṃ mūrtimaiśvarīṃ śuddharūpiṇīm | advitīyamanādyaṃtaṃ sarvābhāsaṃ cidātmakam | aṃtardadhe parākhyaṃ yadbrahma sarvagamavyayam
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
Cosmic Event: Tirodhāna (self-concealment): Parā Brahman ‘withdraws’ after manifesting Īśvarī, establishing the hidden transcendence behind appearances.
FAQs
It teaches that after the divine Śakti-form is manifested, the Supreme Reality (Parā Brahman) remains non-dual, beginningless, and pure Consciousness, yet chooses to be “hidden” (antardadhe)—indicating the mystery of transcendence behind all creation and experience.
The verse bridges Saguna and Nirguna: the manifest divine form (Īśvarī/Śakti) supports devotional worship, while the concealed Parā Brahman points to Shiva’s formless, all-pervading consciousness—often contemplated through the Śiva-liṅga as a symbol of the unmanifest Absolute.
A practical takeaway is nididhyāsana (deep contemplation) on Shiva as cid-ātman—reciting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while meditating that all appearances arise in Consciousness, and the Supreme remains imperishable beyond form.