Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
वायुरुवाच । बुद्धीन्द्रियशरीरेभ्यो व्यतिरेको विभोर्ध्रुवम् । अस्त्येव कश्चिदात्मेति हेतुस्तत्र सुदुर्गमः
vāyuruvāca | buddhīndriyaśarīrebhyo vyatireko vibhordhruvam | astyeva kaścidātmeti hetustatra sudurgamaḥ
वायुरुवाच—बुद्धीन्द्रियशरीरेभ्यो विभोः व्यतिरेको ध्रुवम्। तथापि ‘अस्त्येव कश्चिदात्मा’ इति निश्चयहेतुः सुदुर्गमः॥
Vayu
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; Vāyu answers the sages by affirming the Lord’s transcendence over body-mind-senses and the subtlety of the proof of the inner Self.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches viveka (discrimination): Shiva, the Pati (Lord), is not the body, senses, or intellect, and realizing the inner Self and the Lord’s transcendence requires subtle inquiry and sustained yogic insight.
Linga worship begins with a form (saguṇa upāsanā) but aims at recognizing Shiva as beyond all limiting instruments—body, senses, and mind—leading the devotee from symbol to the formless, all-pervading reality.
Meditative self-inquiry with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna helps one detach from identification with body-senses-intellect and abide in the inner awareness oriented to Shiva.