Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman
उकाराख्यो हरिर्योनिः प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः । बीजी च बीजं तद्योनिर्नादाख्यश्च महेश्वरः
ukārākhyo hariryoniḥ pradhānapuruṣeśvaraḥ | bījī ca bījaṃ tadyonirnādākhyaśca maheśvaraḥ
Suku kata “U”, yang dikenali sebagai Hari, ialah rahim (punca) sebagai Tuhan yang menguasai Pradhāna dan Puruṣa. Baginda ialah pembawa benih dan juga benih itu sendiri; dan rahim yang sama itulah Maheśvara, yang dikenali sebagai Nāda, bunyi asal yang mula-mula.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: उकाराख्यो हरिर्योनिः प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः । बीजी च बीजं तद्योनिर्नादाख्यश्च महेश्वरः
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: emergence of Nāda as causal vibration; Pradhāna–Puruṣa governance
FAQs
The verse teaches that the sustaining cosmic principle (Hari, linked here with the “U” sound) and the entire causal chain of creation ultimately rest in Maheśvara as Nāda—the primordial vibration—affirming Śiva as the supreme source (Pati) behind all manifesting powers.
Nāda is a subtle indicator (liṅga) of the Supreme: in Saguna worship, devotees approach Śiva through sound (mantra) and form (Liṅga), recognizing that the visible Liṅga and audible mantra both point to the same Maheśvara who is the causal womb of creation.
Meditation on praṇava (Om) and mantra-japa with awareness of Nāda (inner sound) is suggested—hearing the mantra as Śiva’s vibration while worshipping the Liṅga, aligning the mind with the causal source rather than only external forms.