Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras
एक एव त्रिधा भिन्नः परमात्मा महेश्वरः । मायास्वाकारणादेव स्वतंत्रो लीलया प्रभुः
eka eva tridhā bhinnaḥ paramātmā maheśvaraḥ | māyāsvākāraṇādeva svataṃtro līlayā prabhuḥ
至上之我——大自在天摩诃伊湿伐罗——实为唯一，却示现为三相。凭其自有的摩耶，不假外缘，此大主宰全然自在，以神圣之戏（līlā）显现宇宙。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: cosmogony via māyā (projection/veiling)
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva (Maheśvara) is the one Supreme Reality who, by His own māyā, appears in multiple functional modes while remaining sovereign and unchanged—guiding the seeker to see unity behind apparent multiplicity.
The Liṅga worship centers on the one Maheśvara who is beyond form yet graciously becomes accessible through manifestations; the verse supports Saguna worship as a doorway to realizing the One who stands beyond all appearances.
Meditate on Śiva as svatantra (independent Lord) while japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and contemplate that all changing appearances arise from His līlā through māyā.