Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23
रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā
दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु मेघो भूत्वावहद्धराम् । तस्य भावं समालक्ष्य विष्णोर्विश्वजगद्गुरुः
divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu megho bhūtvāvahaddharām | tasya bhāvaṃ samālakṣya viṣṇorviśvajagadguruḥ
ตลอดหนึ่งพันปีทิพย์ เขากลายเป็นเมฆและโปรยฝนลงสู่แผ่นดิน ครั้นเห็นเจตนาและสภาวะนั้นแล้ว คุรุแห่งสากลจักรวาลก็เข้าใจว่าเกี่ยวเนื่องกับพระวิษณุ.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: prolonged divine rainfall for a thousand celestial years (mythic hyper-time)
FAQs
It emphasizes that divine acts are driven by bhāva (inner intent), and that the Jagadguru—understood in the Vāyavīya context as Śiva, the supreme knower—perceives the deeper purpose behind cosmic events, guiding beings toward right understanding and liberation.
Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Śiva devotion by portraying Śiva as Jagadguru who reads the inner reality behind appearances; in Liṅga worship, the devotee likewise learns to see beyond outer form to the indwelling Lord (Pati) who governs all actions and intentions.
A practical takeaway is bhāva-śuddhi (purifying intention): meditate on Śiva as the inner witness (sākṣin) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering water (abhiṣeka) with the resolve that one’s inner disposition be made pure and steady.