Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10
अर्धनारीश्वरप्रादुर्भावः
Manifestation of Ardhanārīśvara and the Impulse for Procreative Creation
तं दृष्ट्वा परमं देवं तमसः परमव्ययम् । अद्वितीयमनिर्देश्यमदृश्यमकृतात्मभिः
taṃ dṛṣṭvā paramaṃ devaṃ tamasaḥ paramavyayam | advitīyamanirdeśyamadṛśyamakṛtātmabhiḥ
Tatkala mereka memandang Deva Yang Tertinggi itu—tidak binasa dan melampaui kegelapan kejahilan—mereka yang belum terlatih batinnya tetap menyedari-Nya sebagai Yang Esa tanpa kedua: tak terungkapkan dan tak terlihat.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It points to Shiva as Pati—the Supreme Reality beyond tamas (ignorance) and decay—who is non-dual and ultimately beyond conceptual description; realization depends on inner purification rather than mere sensory seeing.
Though Shiva is described as unseen and indefinable (Nirguna), the Shiva Purana also upholds the Linga and other Saguna forms as compassionate supports for devotees to purify the mind and approach that very transcendent Shiva.
The verse implies आत्मशुद्धि (inner purification): steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dhyāna on Shiva, and Shaiva disciplines like wearing Rudraksha and applying Tripundra to cultivate the fitness to ‘see’ the Supreme.