Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
तपसा तेन तीव्रेण तुष्टस्तस्य पिता स्वयम् । दिव्यं कौमारमास्थाय रूपं रूपवतां वरः
tapasā tena tīvreṇa tuṣṭastasya pitā svayam | divyaṃ kaumāramāsthāya rūpaṃ rūpavatāṃ varaḥ
Dengan tapa yang amat keras itu, Sang Bapa sendiri berkenan kepadanya. Yang paling utama antara segala yang berwujud itu pun mengambil rupa muda yang bercahaya, lalu menzahirkan diri di hadapannya.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana account to the sages, Vayu Samhita context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: liberating
FAQs
It shows the Shaiva principle that sincere, intense tapas purifies the pashu (bound soul) and draws the compassionate grace of Pati (the Lord), who reveals Himself in an accessible form for the devotee’s upliftment.
Though Shiva is ultimately beyond form (nirguṇa), He compassionately assumes a saguna, divine form for darśana; likewise, the Linga is a gracious, worship-worthy manifestation through which the devotee approaches the formless Reality.
Steady tapas supported by japa—especially the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—along with disciplined purity (such as Tripuṇḍra bhasma and Rudrāksha where traditional) is implied as the means to please Shiva and receive His grace.