Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 75
पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati
तस्यैते कथिताह्यर्थाः प्रकाशंते महात्मनः । अतश्च संक्षेपमिदं शृणुध्वं शिवः परस्तात्प्रकृतेश्च पुंसः
tasyaite kathitāhyarthāḥ prakāśaṃte mahātmanaḥ | ataśca saṃkṣepamidaṃ śṛṇudhvaṃ śivaḥ parastātprakṛteśca puṃsaḥ
Makna-makna yang telah dihuraikan ini menjadi jelas bagi insan yang berjiwa agung. Maka dengarlah kesimpulan ringkas ini: Śiva berada melampaui Prakṛti (tabiat kebendaan) dan melampaui Puruṣa (diri individu).
Suta Goswami (narrating philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya in the Vayu Samhita style discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a siddhānta-style siddhānta-vākya: Śiva is transcendent to both prakṛti and puruṣa.
Significance: Directs the pilgrim’s contemplation from temple-form to tattva: Śiva as Pati beyond the 24/25 categories, the goal of darśana.
FAQs
It summarizes a key Shaiva Siddhanta insight: Śiva (Pati) is not limited by matter (Prakṛti) nor by the bound soul-condition (Puruṣa as the individual). Liberation arises from knowing Śiva as the transcendent Lord who grants grace beyond both.
Linga worship provides a concrete, Saguna focus for devotion and meditation, yet the verse clarifies the metaphysical truth behind it: the worshipped Śiva ultimately transcends both material nature and the individual self, leading the devotee from form to the formless supremacy of Pati.
A practical takeaway is contemplative japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the inner reflection that Śiva is beyond Prakṛti and the limited ego-sense of the self, supporting detachment and steady devotion toward moksha.