Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 2
Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ
Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation
सूत उवाच । यच्चादौ हि समुत्पन्नं निर्गुणात्परमात्मनः । तदेव शिवसंज्ञं हि वेदवेदांतिनो विदुः
sūta uvāca | yaccādau hi samutpannaṃ nirguṇātparamātmanaḥ | tadeva śivasaṃjñaṃ hi vedavedāṃtino viduḥ
ਸੂਤ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਜੋ ਆਦਿ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਹੋਇਆ, ਉਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਦ ਅਤੇ ਵੇਦਾਂਤ ਦੇ ਜਾਣਕਾਰ ‘ਸ਼ਿਵ’ ਨਾਮ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹਨ।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Establishes Śiva as the primary designation for the nirguṇa Paramātman as understood by Veda/Vedānta—supporting śraddhā in Śiva as mokṣa-prada.
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: cosmogonic beginning (ādau) / initial manifestation
FAQs
It identifies Śiva with the nirguṇa Paramātman—the transcendent Reality beyond qualities—affirming that liberation is grounded in realizing Śiva as the Supreme Self, not merely as a limited form.
While devotees worship Śiva in saguna forms such as the Liṅga, this verse clarifies that the ultimate referent of that worship is the nirguṇa Paramātman; the form serves as a sacred support leading the mind to the formless truth.
Meditate on Śiva as both transcendent (nirguṇa) and immanent (manifest), using japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a bridge from form-based devotion to inner realization.