Shloka 24
सृष्टिवर्णनम्
Cosmogony and the Roles of the Trimūrti
सृज्यमानाः प्रजाश्चैव नावर्द्धन्त यदा तदा । द्विधा कृत्वात्मनो देहं स्त्री चैव पुरुषोऽभवत्
sṛjyamānāḥ prajāścaiva nāvarddhanta yadā tadā | dvidhā kṛtvātmano dehaṃ strī caiva puruṣo'bhavat
படைப்பில் தோன்றிய உயிர்கள் பெருகாதபோது, அவர் தம் உடலை இரண்டாகப் பிரித்து, பெண்ணும் ஆணுமாக—இரு வடிவங்களாய் ஆனார்।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s account, within the Uma-saṃhitā philosophical-creation context)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara
FAQs
It explains that worldly proliferation begins through the appearance of duality (male and female), while Shaiva Siddhanta points beyond this to the higher truth: Pati (Shiva) remains the transcendent Lord who empowers creation through Shakti yet is not limited by bodily division.
The Linga symbolizes Shiva as the formless-transcendent (nirguṇa) reality that nevertheless manifests powerfully as the source of forms (saguṇa). The division into man and woman reflects manifest nature, while Linga-worship draws the devotee back to the unifying principle beyond all opposites.
Meditate on the unity of Śiva-Śakti while chanting the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” recognizing that all dualities arise in creation but are reconciled in Shiva-consciousness; offer worship to the Linga with bhakti to transcend binding differentiation (pāśa).