Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39
सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation
अंतस्तमो बहिस्सत्त्वो विष्णूरुद्रस्तथा मतः । अंतस्सत्त्वस्तमोबाह्यो रजोहं सर्वेथा मुने
aṃtastamo bahissattvo viṣṇūrudrastathā mataḥ | aṃtassattvastamobāhyo rajohaṃ sarvethā mune
اے مُنی، یہ سمجھا جاتا ہے کہ وِشنو اور رُدر کے اندر تَمَس اور باہر سَتْو ہے؛ مگر میں ہر طرح راجس ہوں—اندر سَتْو اور باہر تَمَس۔
Brahmā (narrating creation-tattva to a sage, traditionally Nārada)
Tattva Level: pasha
Cosmic Event: guṇa-traya differentiation in the sṛṣṭi narrative
FAQs
It frames cosmic functions through the three guṇas: creation is rajasic, while preservation and dissolution can appear as mixed guṇas. From a Shaiva lens, these guṇas belong to prakṛti and bind the soul; liberation comes by turning to Śiva as Pati, who is beyond the guṇas.
Because guṇas color the mind, the Purana points the seeker to Saguna Śiva—especially the Liṅga—as a stable focus that purifies rajas and tamas and leads the devotee toward the realization of Śiva’s transcendence (nirguṇa) beyond all guṇas.
Cultivate sattva and restrain rajas/tamas through regular Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a daily reminder to burn impurity and steady the mind.