Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 16
पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः
Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya
उपादिशं निजं मंत्रमओंकारमुरुमंगलम् । ओंकारो मन्मुखाज्जज्ञे प्रथमं मत्प्रबोधकः
upādiśaṃ nijaṃ maṃtramaoṃkāramurumaṃgalam | oṃkāro manmukhājjajñe prathamaṃ matprabodhakaḥ
Itinuro Ko sa kanya ang Aking sariling mantra—ang Oṃkāra, ang lubhang mapalad na tunog. Ang Oṃkāra ay unang isinilang mula sa Aking bibig, bilang unang tagapagpagising ng kaalaman tungkol sa Akin.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: Praṇava is described as first emanating from Śiva’s mouth as the primal revealer; this aligns with Oṃkāreśvara’s identity as the kṣetra where Oṃ is worshipped as Śiva’s very manifestation.
Significance: Contemplation of Oṃ as Śiva’s first revelation is held to awaken Śiva-jñāna and establish the devotee in auspiciousness (maṅgala).
Mantra: Oṃ (Oṃkāra / Praṇava)
Type: gayatri
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Primordial revelation of mantra at the beginning of instruction; archetypally linked to sṛṣṭi of śabda (sound) as first disclosure.
FAQs
The verse presents Oṃkāra (Praṇava) as Shiva’s own primordial mantra—arising from Shiva and functioning as the first revealer of Shiva-tattva, i.e., the awakening of true knowledge that leads the soul toward liberation.
In Shaiva practice, the Linga is a sacred focus for Saguna worship, while Oṃkāra is the subtle seed-sound that sanctifies and internalizes that worship; chanting Oṃ (and related Shaiva mantras) links outer Linga-pūjā to inner realization of Shiva as the supreme Pati.
The takeaway is mantra-upāsanā: disciplined japa of Oṃ (and, in Shaiva Siddhanta context, its integration with Shiva-mantra such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), done with purity, concentration, and devotion—especially suitable for daily worship and Mahāśivarātri observance.