बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
गुणत्रयं व्यपोह्याग्रे शिवं बोधयतीति सः । विश्वस्तानां तु शिष्याणां गुरुरित्यभिधीयते
guṇatrayaṃ vyapohyāgre śivaṃ bodhayatīti saḥ | viśvastānāṃ tu śiṣyāṇāṃ gururityabhidhīyate
Ngài được gọi là Guru vì trước hết loại bỏ tam guṇa khỏi sự nhận thức của đệ tử, rồi đánh thức tri kiến về Śiva. Với những đệ tử đã đặt trọn niềm tin nơi Ngài, Ngài được tôn xưng là “Guru” như vậy.
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
It defines the true Guru as the one who dispels guṇa-bound perception (sattva, rajas, tamas) and establishes the disciple in Śiva-knowledge—pointing to liberation (mokṣa) through right insight and grace, central to Śaiva Siddhānta.
Liṅga and saguna worship purify and steady the mind; the Guru then leads the disciple beyond guṇas to grasp Śiva’s supreme reality. Thus, outer worship and inner realization are linked: devotion matures into direct understanding of Śiva.
Practice mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined conduct and devotion under a Guru’s guidance, using worship to reduce rajas and tamas and to transcend even sattva into Śiva-centered awareness.