Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”
निगमं श्वासरूपेण ददौ तस्मै ततो हरः । विष्णवे च प्रसन्नात्मा महेशः करुणाकरः
nigamaṃ śvāsarūpeṇa dadau tasmai tato haraḥ | viṣṇave ca prasannātmā maheśaḥ karuṇākaraḥ
پھر کرم کے سمندر مہیش—ہر—نے دل سے خوش ہو کر اسے نگم (وید) گویا اپنے سانس کی صورت میں عطا کیا؛ اور اسی طرح وِشنو کو بھی بخشا۔
Suta Goswami (narrating the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: cosmogonic revelation: Veda issued as Śiva’s ‘breath’ for ordering creation
FAQs
It establishes Shiva (Pati) as the compassionate source of sacred knowledge: the Veda arises from Him like breath, showing that dharma and liberating wisdom ultimately depend on Shiva’s grace.
If the Veda itself is Shiva-born, then Vedic-Agamic worship—especially Saguna devotion such as Linga-upasana—rests on Shiva’s own revelation and compassion, not on merely human invention.
Contemplate Shiva as the inner life-breath (prāṇa) and source of mantra; recite Shiva-mantras (notably the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with breath-awareness as a devotional meditation rooted in nigama.