Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17
सर्वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause
अप्राकृतवपुः श्रीमांल्लक्ष्यलक्षणवर्जितः । अयं मुक्तो मोचकश्च ह्यकालः कालचोदकः
aprākṛtavapuḥ śrīmāṃllakṣyalakṣaṇavarjitaḥ | ayaṃ mukto mocakaśca hyakālaḥ kālacodakaḥ
Ele possui uma forma transcendental, não material, sempre auspiciosa e resplandecente, além de todos os objetos de percepção e de seus sinais definidores. Ele mesmo é o Libertado e também o Libertador; atemporal, e contudo Aquele que impele o tempo a seguir seu curso.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: The verse’s themes—timelessness and impelling time—resonate with Mahākāla theology: Śiva as Kāla’s lord and source. While not a direct sthala episode, it doctrinally underwrites the Mahākāleśvara idea of Śiva ruling over time and death.
Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as akāla and kālacodaka supports fearlessness toward death/time and aspiration for mokṣa; Mahākāleśvara darśana is traditionally sought for protection from untimely death and for inner detachment.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Implicit cosmological principle: Kāla is set in motion by the Lord; time is derivative, not ultimate.
FAQs
The verse presents Shiva as Pati—the ever-free Supreme who is beyond sensory definition, yet compassionately grants liberation to bound souls; He transcends time while governing its function, showing His absolute sovereignty and grace.
Though Shiva is described as beyond all perceptible marks (nirguna), devotees approach Him through saguna supports like the Shiva-linga; the linga is a sacred focus that leads the mind from form to the formless Liberator indicated by this verse.
Meditate on Shiva as the timeless Liberator while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using the linga as a steady support for contemplation on His transcendence beyond all lakṣaṇas (defining marks).