Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38
शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti
Para–Apara Ontology
स्त्रीपुंसयोर्विभूतिश्च स्त्रीपुंसाभ्यामधिष्ठितम् । परमात्मा शिवः प्रोक्तश्शिवा सा च प्रकीर्तिता
strīpuṃsayorvibhūtiśca strīpuṃsābhyāmadhiṣṭhitam | paramātmā śivaḥ proktaśśivā sā ca prakīrtitā
Kekuatan yang menampakkan diri sebagai perempuan dan lelaki itu dipayungi oleh kedua-duanya, feminin dan maskulin. Diri Tertinggi (Paramātman) dinyatakan sebagai Śiva, dan Kuasa Tertinggi itu dipuji sebagai Śivā.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Śivā
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: governance/presidency (adhiṣṭhāna) of manifestation by the conjoint feminine-masculine principles
FAQs
It teaches that the Supreme Reality is Śiva (Pati) along with His inseparable Power, Śivā (Śakti), through whom the universe manifests as feminine and masculine—guiding the seeker to see divinity as one, expressed in complementary modes.
Liṅga worship honors Śiva as the Supreme Self while also implying His dynamic Śakti; Saguna worship commonly approaches this unity as Śiva with Śivā, recognizing that divine grace and manifestation arise through their inseparable oneness.
Meditate on Śiva-Śakti abheda (non-separation) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and contemplate that all dualities (female/male) are governed by the one Supreme Lord with His Power.