Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9
अग्नीषोमात्मकविश्ववर्णनम् / The Universe as Agni–Soma
Fire and Nectar
अग्निरूर्ध्वं ज्वलत्येष यावत्सौम्यं परामृतम् । यावदग्न्यास्पदं सौम्यममृतं च स्रवत्यधः
agnirūrdhvaṃ jvalatyeṣa yāvatsaumyaṃ parāmṛtam | yāvadagnyāspadaṃ saumyamamṛtaṃ ca sravatyadhaḥ
ไฟนี้ลุกโพลงขึ้นเบื้องบนตราบเท่าที่อมฤตอันอ่อนละมุนและสูงสุดยังคงอยู่ และตราบเท่าที่อมฤตอันอ่อนละมุนนั้น—สถิตบนที่ตั้งแห่งไฟ—ยังหยดรินลงเบื้องล่าง.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Vāmadeva
Type: rudram
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It describes an inner yogic process: the upward-rising fire of practice and the cooling, immortal nectar (amṛta) that sustains and transforms the seeker—symbolizing Shiva’s grace culminating in liberation.
In Shaiva understanding, outer Linga worship supports inner realization: disciplined devotion and mantra kindle the ‘agni’ of awareness, while Shiva’s auspicious, cooling power (saumya-amṛta) descends as peace, steadiness, and spiritual vitality.
A meditative takeaway is to combine japa (especially the Panchakshara) with steady pranayama and inward concentration, cultivating the upward current of awareness while resting in Shiva’s cooling presence—often supported by Tripundra and Rudraksha as aids to discipline.