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
毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）被称颂为安住于诸德性（guṇa）并在其中运转者，因此在该境界中被说为“真实”（satya）。而常住湿婆（Sadāśiva）被宣示为超越诸德性（nirguṇa）；故教示其为万有之究竟因（kāraṇa）。
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.