Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4
षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution
शब्दात्मिका विभूतिर्या सा त्रिधा कथ्यते बुधैः । स्थूला सूक्ष्मा परा चेति स्थूला या श्रुतिगोचरा
śabdātmikā vibhūtiryā sā tridhā kathyate budhaiḥ | sthūlā sūkṣmā parā ceti sthūlā yā śrutigocarā
جس وِبھوتی کی حقیقت ہی شبد (صوت) ہے، اہلِ دانش اسے تین قسم کا کہتے ہیں: ستھول، سوکشْم اور پرا۔ ان میں ستھول وہ ہے جو سماعت کی گرفت میں آتا ہے، یعنی ادا شدہ آواز کی صورت میں۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Shakti Form: Lalitā
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that mantra is not merely spoken sound; it is a three-tiered śakti—from audible utterance to subtle inner vibration and finally the supreme, transcendent source—guiding the aspirant from external practice toward inner realization of Pati (Shiva).
Linga-worship commonly begins with the gross level—audible japa, stotra, and ritual recitation—yet the Purana points beyond to subtler absorption where sound becomes inner nāda, culminating in the supreme (parā) awareness that reveals Shiva as the indwelling Lord.
Begin with clear audible japa of a Shaiva mantra (such as the Panchakshara) and gradually refine it into mental japa and contemplative listening to inner nāda, moving from gross sound to subtle and toward the supreme source.