Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 98
पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्
Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva
दिवाकरो महेशस्य मूर्तिर्दीप्तिसुमंडलः । निर्गुणो गुणसंकीर्णस्तथैव गुणकेवलः
divākaro maheśasya mūrtirdīptisumaṃḍalaḥ | nirguṇo guṇasaṃkīrṇastathaiva guṇakevalaḥ
Mặt Trời là một hình tướng hiển lộ của Maheshvara, được bao quanh bởi quầng sáng rực rỡ. Ngài vượt ngoài mọi phẩm tính (nirguṇa), nhưng cũng được thấy như hòa lẫn các phẩm tính, và lại như thuần túy mang các phẩm tính.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva is simultaneously transcendent (nirguṇa) and immanent (saguṇa): the same Supreme Reality is beyond all attributes, yet compassionately appears through perceivable forms—here symbolized by the Sun’s radiant orb—so devotees can contemplate and realize Him.
Just as the Sun is a visible support for contemplating the invisible Supreme, the Śiva-liṅga is a sacred support (ālambana) for worshipping Saguna Shiva while remembering that His ultimate nature is Nirguna—beyond form, color, and limitation.
Meditate on Shiva’s presence as the inner light behind the Sun’s radiance while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); during worship, apply Tripuṇḍra bhasma and offer arghya or water as a symbol of surrendering one’s limited qualities to the Lord beyond qualities.