Ṣaḍvidhārtha-Parijñāna: Praṇavārtha and the Sixfold Unity of Meaning (षड्विधार्थपरिज्ञानम् / प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानम्)
चतुर्थः पञ्चमार्थस्स्याद्गुरुरूपप्रदर्शकः । षष्ठश्शिष्यात्मरूपोऽर्थः षड्विधार्थाः प्रकीर्त्तिताः
caturthaḥ pañcamārthassyādgururūpapradarśakaḥ | ṣaṣṭhaśśiṣyātmarūpo'rthaḥ ṣaḍvidhārthāḥ prakīrttitāḥ
چوتھا اور پانچواں معنی گُرو کے سُوروپ کو ظاہر کرنے والے کہے گئے ہیں؛ چھٹا معنی وہ ہے جس کی صورت شِشْیَ کے اپنے آتما-سُوروپ کی ہے۔ یوں چھ طرح کے معانی بیان کیے گئے۔
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
It teaches that scripture and mantra are not merely intellectual: their deeper senses disclose the Guru-principle and culminate in recognizing the disciple’s own Self as aligned with Shiva’s grace—an essential Shaiva Siddhanta movement from instruction to realization.
In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship (Linga, images, ritual) is guided by the Guru; these ‘meanings’ point from outer devotion to the inner presence of Shiva revealed through the Guru, so Linga-upasana becomes a doorway to inner awakening rather than mere formality.
Guru-upasana with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) and contemplative inquiry into the mantra’s layered meanings—seeing the Guru as the revealer and meditating on the Self purified by Shiva’s grace.