Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
तमोगुणेष्वथो रुद्रं मूर्तिष्वाद्यं क्रियासु च । संहृतिं त्रिषु लोकेषु तत्त्वेषु शिवमुत्तमम्
tamoguṇeṣvatho rudraṃ mūrtiṣvādyaṃ kriyāsu ca | saṃhṛtiṃ triṣu lokeṣu tattveṣu śivamuttamam
在昏暗之性(tamas)的原理中，祂名为鲁陀罗(Rudra)；在一切有形之相中，祂为本初者；在诸行之中，祂为毁摄之力。在三界之中，祂即宇宙回收本身；于一切真理位(tattva)之中，祂为至上湿婆——最高实相与主宰。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Śiva is contemplated as the very principle of saṃhāra and kāla; Ujjayinī’s Mahākāla tradition centers on Śiva as Time who dissolves the worlds and grants fearlessness.
Significance: Darśana of Mahākāla is sought for release from fear of death/time and for inner detachment leading toward liberation.
Mantra: ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ॥
Type: mahamrityunjaya
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: pralaya/saṃhāra principle emphasized (reabsorption across the three worlds)
FAQs
It teaches a layered vision of Shiva: as Rudra He governs tamas and the function of dissolution, yet as Shiva-tattva He transcends all categories and stands as the supreme Reality (Pati) underlying the worlds and principles.
It supports Saguna contemplation—Shiva as Rudra, the cosmic dissolver—while pointing beyond form to Shiva as the highest tattva. Linga-worship integrates both: a visible support for meditation that leads the devotee toward the formless, supreme Shiva.
Meditate on Shiva as the inner Lord of the tattvas, repeating the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while contemplating saṃhāra as the withdrawal of the mind from impurities; complement with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and dissolution.