Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 48
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
न च स्त्री न पुमानेष नैव चापि नपुंसकः । नैवोर्ध्वं नापि तिर्यक्नाधस्तान्न कुतश्चन
na ca strī na pumāneṣa naiva cāpi napuṃsakaḥ | naivordhvaṃ nāpi tiryaknādhastānna kutaścana
พระองค์มิใช่หญิง มิใช่ชาย และมิใช่เพศกลาง พระองค์มิได้อยู่เบื้องบน มิได้อยู่ด้านข้าง มิได้อยู่เบื้องล่าง—ไม่อาจพบได้จากทิศทางใดเลย.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It declares Shiva as the supreme Pati who transcends gender, form, and spatial location—teaching that the highest reality cannot be grasped by ordinary categories, but realized through inner knowledge and grace.
Though Shiva is beyond all directions and attributes, devotees approach Him through the Linga and other saguna forms as compassionate supports for meditation; the symbol leads the mind from form to the formless truth indicated here.
Meditate on Shiva as all-pervading consciousness using the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), letting go of bodily and directional notions; worship the Linga as a focal point while contemplating His transcendence.