Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

त्रिमूर्तिसाम्यं तथा महेश्वरस्य परमार्थकारणत्वम् | Equality of the Trimūrti and Maheśvara as the Supreme Cause

Devanagari script

देवो गुणत्रयातीतश्चतुर्व्यूहो महेश्वरः । सकलस्सकलाधारशक्तेरुत्पत्तिकारणम्

Transliteration

devo guṇatrayātītaścaturvyūho maheśvaraḥ | sakalassakalādhāraśakterutpattikāraṇam

Translation

大天（Mahādeva）是至高无上的主，超越了三性（guṇas）。作为大自在天（Maheśvara），祂以四重神圣化身显现，但仍是完整而完美的唯一者——支持所有显现的原理，并且是性力（Śakti）产生并展开创造的根本原因。

Word by Word

• devaḥ: the God
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• guṇa-traya-atītaḥ: beyond the three guṇas
• guṇa-traya-atītaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + traya + atīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: guṇa-traya ‘three qualities’ + atīta ‘gone beyond’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying devaḥ/maheśvaraḥ

• catur-vyūhaḥ: having four manifestations/arrays
• catur-vyūhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + vyūha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) numeral compound: catur (four) + vyūha; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheśvara (Great Lord)
• maheśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound: mahā + īśvara; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sakalaḥ: entire/complete
• sakalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying maheśvaraḥ

• sakala-ādhāra-śakteḥ: of the power that supports all
• sakala-ādhāra-śakteḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakala + ādhāra + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: sakala-ādhāra ‘support of all’ + śakti; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• utpatti-kāraṇam: the cause of (its) arising
• utpatti-kāraṇam: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpatti + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: utpatti ‘origin’ + kāraṇa ‘cause’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); predicate nominative to maheśvaraḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic emanation (Śakti-utpatti and tattva-support)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Shakti

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It identifies Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who is untouched by the three guṇas, while still being the ground of all manifestation; realizing Him as both transcendent and immanent is presented as a key to liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By calling Him “sakala” and the support of all, the verse supports saguna-upāsanā (worship with attributes), such as Liṅga worship, as a valid approach to the same guṇātīta Reality who is ultimately beyond all limiting qualities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as guṇātīta while worshipping His sakala form through Liṅga-pūjā and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), uniting inner contemplation with outer devotion.