Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63
गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्
Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages
गुणालयो विहारी च विष्णुस्सत्यं प्रकीर्तितः । सदाशिवोऽगुणः प्रोक्तस्तत्र कारण मुच्यते
guṇālayo vihārī ca viṣṇussatyaṃ prakīrtitaḥ | sadāśivo'guṇaḥ proktastatra kāraṇa mucyate
Viṣṇu được tán dương là Đấng nương trong các guṇa và vận hành giữa chúng, nên trong phạm vi ấy được gọi là “satya” (chân thật). Còn Sadāśiva được tuyên xưng là vượt ngoài các guṇa (nirguṇa); vì thế Ngài được dạy là kāraṇa, nguyên nhân tối hậu của muôn loài.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Doctrinal hierarchy: distinguishes saguṇa governance (Viṣṇu operating within guṇas) from the nirguṇa transcendence of Sadāśiva as ultimate kāraṇa. For pilgrims and practitioners, it grounds devotion in the Supreme (Paramaśiva/Sadāśiva) while acknowledging functional cosmic roles.
FAQs
It establishes a Shaiva Siddhanta hierarchy: deities operating within prakṛti are associated with the guṇas, while Sadāśiva transcends them as nirguṇa Pati—the ultimate causal reality leading the soul toward moksha.
Though Sadāśiva is nirguṇa, devotees approach Him through saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga, names, and forms—using worship to rise beyond guṇa-bound perception toward the transcendent Shiva.
Contemplate Shiva as nirguṇa while doing saguna upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before the liṅga, with steady inner reflection that the Supreme Sadāśiva is beyond all qualities.