Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
एतस्मान्मातृकादष्टत्रिंशन्मातृसमुद्भ वः । ईशानाच्छान्त्यतीताख्या कला जाताथ पूरुषात् । उत्पद्यते शान्तिकला विद्याऽघोरसमुद्भवा
etasmānmātṛkādaṣṭatriṃśanmātṛsamudbha vaḥ | īśānācchāntyatītākhyā kalā jātātha pūruṣāt | utpadyate śāntikalā vidyā'ghorasamudbhavā
由此母字源(Mātṛkā)生起三十八种“母所生”的诸原则。由伊舍那(Īśāna)出生名为“超越寂静”(Śāntyatītā)的分力(kalā);由补鲁沙(Puruṣa)生起“寂静”(Śānti)之分力。明知(Vidyā)则从阿伽罗(Aghora)涌现。
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s higher principles to the sages of Naimisharanya, typical of the Kailasha Samhita’s philosophical discourse)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
It maps spiritual evolution as a Shaiva cosmology: powers (kalās) and sacred knowledge (vidyā) arise from Śiva’s aspects, showing that liberation-oriented knowledge ultimately originates in Pati (Śiva) rather than in the limited self (paśu).
Īśāna and Aghora are Saguna manifestations of Śiva contemplated in Linga worship and mantra-dhyāna; the verse teaches that these divine aspects are not mere symbols but sources of peace (śānti) and transforming knowledge (vidyā) leading the devotee toward Śiva-realization.
Meditate on Śiva’s faces/aspects—especially Īśāna for transcendence and Aghora for purifying knowledge—while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivating inner śānti; this aligns mantra-japa with tattva-contemplation.