Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi
महानन्दं परानन्दं योगानन्दमनामयम् हेयोपादेयरहितं सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मतरं शिवम्
mahānandaṃ parānandaṃ yogānandamanāmayam heyopādeyarahitaṃ sūkṣmātsūkṣmataraṃ śivam
ఆయనే శివుడు—మహానందం, పరానందం, యోగానందం; అనామయుడు. హేయ-ఉపాదేయరహితుడు, సూక్ష్మాతిసూక్ష్ముడు.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s supreme nature to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It frames the object of Linga-puja as the formless, subtlest Shiva-tattva—pure bliss beyond all dualistic notions—so worship aims at inner realization of Pati, not merely external ritual.
Shiva is presented as Ananda itself (mahā/parā/yogānanda), untouched by affliction (anāmaya), and beyond heya-upadeya—indicating transcendence over pasha-born dualities that bind the pashu.
The verse points to yogic absorption (dhyāna–samādhi) where Shiva is realized as Yogānanda; in Pashupata orientation, this supports inner worship (mānasa-pūjā) alongside Linga-puja.