Ṣaḍvidhārtha-Parijñāna: Praṇavārtha and the Sixfold Unity of Meaning (षड्विधार्थपरिज्ञानम् / प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानम्)
चतुर्थः पञ्चमार्थस्स्याद्गुरुरूपप्रदर्शकः । षष्ठश्शिष्यात्मरूपोऽर्थः षड्विधार्थाः प्रकीर्त्तिताः
caturthaḥ pañcamārthassyādgururūpapradarśakaḥ | ṣaṣṭhaśśiṣyātmarūpo'rthaḥ ṣaḍvidhārthāḥ prakīrttitāḥ
第四与第五种义理,被说为显现上师(古鲁)之形相者;第六种义理,其形相即是弟子自身之真我。由是六种义理已被宣说。
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
It teaches that scripture and mantra are not merely intellectual: their deeper senses disclose the Guru-principle and culminate in recognizing the disciple’s own Self as aligned with Shiva’s grace—an essential Shaiva Siddhanta movement from instruction to realization.
In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship (Linga, images, ritual) is guided by the Guru; these ‘meanings’ point from outer devotion to the inner presence of Shiva revealed through the Guru, so Linga-upasana becomes a doorway to inner awakening rather than mere formality.
Guru-upasana with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) and contemplative inquiry into the mantra’s layered meanings—seeing the Guru as the revealer and meditating on the Self purified by Shiva’s grace.