Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4
शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice
तैरेव सोत्तरैस्सिद्धो धर्मस्तु परमो मतः । परोक्षमपरोक्षं च ज्ञानं यत्र च मोक्षदम्
taireva sottaraissiddho dharmastu paramo mataḥ | parokṣamaparokṣaṃ ca jñānaṃ yatra ca mokṣadam
Dengan ajaran-ajaran itu, beserta makna tertinggi yang tersirat padanya, Dharma yang paling luhur ditegakkan. Di sana terdapat pengetahuan tidak langsung (berdasarkan śāstra) dan pengetahuan langsung (yang direalisasi)—pengetahuan yang menganugerahkan Moksha.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Clarifies that both parokṣa (śāstra-based) and aparokṣa (realized) jñāna operate within the supreme dharma; pilgrimage/temple life supports parokṣa→aparokṣa transition but no specific kṣetra is named.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It declares that the supreme Dharma culminates in liberating knowledge—first understood indirectly through scripture (parokṣa), then realized directly in experience (aparokṣa)—leading the soul toward Shiva-granted Moksha.
In Shaiva teaching, Saguna worship (such as Linga devotion, mantra, and puja) stabilizes dharma and purifies the devotee, preparing the mind so scriptural understanding matures into direct realization of Shiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants liberation.
A practical takeaway is steady Shiva-upasana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with disciplined conduct—so paroksha knowledge from texts becomes aparoksha insight through meditation and grace.