Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38
शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः
Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation
अथ देवान्समालोक्य मण्डलस्थो महेश्वरः । सर्वागमोत्तरं दत्त्वा शास्त्रमंतरधाद्धरः
atha devānsamālokya maṇḍalastho maheśvaraḥ | sarvāgamottaraṃ dattvā śāstramaṃtaradhāddharaḥ
随后，大自在天（Mahādeva）安坐于神圣的曼荼罗中，环视诸天。赐予他们至上圣典——一切阿伽摩（Āgama）之精髓与究竟——之后，护持者湿婆便从他们眼前隐没而去。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it depicts revelation: Śiva in a maṇḍala grants the ‘sarvāgamottara’ śāstra (the quintessence beyond/above all Āgamas) to the devas, then becomes invisible.
Significance: Frames scripture as grace (anugraha) and disappearance as tirodhāna-like withdrawal that preserves the sanctity of revelation and necessitates qualified transmission.
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Divine revelation event: transmission of āgamic essence to the devas followed by antaradhāna (withdrawal from perception).
FAQs
It presents Śiva as Pati—the supreme Guru—who compassionately reveals the highest Āgamic doctrine to the devas, and then becomes unseen, indicating that the teaching (śāstra) is the enduring means by which seekers approach Him beyond mere physical vision.
The reference to Śiva seated in a maṇḍala points to structured, Saguna-oriented worship (icon/maṇḍala/rite) through which the Āgamas guide devotees toward realization of the transcendent Lord, often centered on Liṅga-upāsanā as the principal Shaiva form.
It suggests Āgama-guided maṇḍala-based worship combined with mantra-japa and meditative absorption—approaching Śiva through disciplined ritual form, then internalizing the teaching so the mind rests in His presence even when He is not seen outwardly.