Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7
शिवस्य आश्वासनं हरि-ब्रह्मणोः तथा शङ्खचूडवृत्तान्तकथनम् / Śiva’s Reassurance to Hari and Brahmā; Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Origin
इत्थं कृत्वा स्वलीलां तां मायां संहृतवानहम् । ज्ञानयुक्तास्तदा ते तु मुक्तमोहास्सुबुद्धयः
itthaṃ kṛtvā svalīlāṃ tāṃ māyāṃ saṃhṛtavānaham | jñānayuktāstadā te tu muktamohāssubuddhayaḥ
“如是，我以那摩耶（Māyā）作我自身的神圣戏游（līlā）而示现，随后便将其收回。此后，他们具足真知，离于迷妄，安住于清明而善辨的智慧之中。”
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that māyā is under Shiva’s lordship and functions as His līlā; when He withdraws its veil, jñāna arises and the soul becomes free from moha (delusion), moving toward moksha under Pati’s grace.
Saguna worship—such as Linga-upāsanā—steadies devotion and purifies the mind; through Shiva’s grace it matures into jñāna where the veiling māyā is withdrawn, revealing Shiva as the ultimate reality beyond confusion.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady dhyāna on Shiva, supported by simple Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, aiming at clarity (subuddhi) and freedom from delusion.