Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42
सर्गविभागवर्णनम्
Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings
ईशाय वसवे तुभ्यं नमस्स्पर्शमयात्मने । पशूनां पतये चैव पावकायातितेजसे । भीमाय व्योमरूपाय शब्दमात्राय ते नमः । उग्रायोग्रस्वरूपाय यजमानात्मने नमः । महादेवाय सोमाय नमोस्त्वमृतमूर्तये
īśāya vasave tubhyaṃ namassparśamayātmane | paśūnāṃ pataye caiva pāvakāyātitejase | bhīmāya vyomarūpāya śabdamātrāya te namaḥ | ugrāyograsvarūpāya yajamānātmane namaḥ | mahādevāya somāya namostvamṛtamūrtaye
Saudações a Ti, Senhor Īśa, Vasu—poder imanente cujo Ser se manifesta como o toque. Saudações a Ti, Paśupati, Senhor dos seres—Fogo de esplendor transcendente. Saudações a Ti, Bhīma, o Terrível—cuja forma é o vasto céu, a própria essência do som. Saudações a Ti, Ugra, o Feroz—que habitas como o Si interior do sacrificante. Saudações a Mahādeva, a Soma—encarnação do amṛta, o néctar imortal.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Ishana
FAQs
The verse praises Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who pervades the tattvas (sense-principles like touch and sound) yet remains transcendent, showing that liberation comes by devotion to the all-pervading Mahādeva who rules and releases the bound souls (paśu).
By invoking Shiva through divine names and cosmic functions (fire, space, sound, inner sacrificer), the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the formless Supreme through sacred forms and attributes, a key method in Linga-upāsanā where the Linga signifies Shiva’s all-pervasive presence.
Use japa of Shiva’s names (Īśa, Paśupati, Ugra, Bhīma, Mahādeva) with contemplation that Shiva is the inner Self of the worshipper (yajamāna-ātmā), integrating devotion with inward meditation; this pairs naturally with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) in Shaiva practice.