Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 5
Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā
प्रः प्रपंचो न नास्तिवो युष्माकं प्रणवं विदुः । प्रकर्षेण नयेद्यस्मान्मोक्षं वः प्रणवं विदुः
praḥ prapaṃco na nāstivo yuṣmākaṃ praṇavaṃ viduḥ | prakarṣeṇa nayedyasmānmokṣaṃ vaḥ praṇavaṃ viduḥ
他们知晓你的“普拉那瓦”（神圣音节Oṁ），凭此并非否定显现的宇宙，而是如实正知；又因它有力引导行者趋向解脱（mokṣa），他们认定此普拉那瓦正是你赐予的解脱之道。
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: Oṃkāra is treated as Śiva’s own sonic body; at Oṃkāreśvara the liṅga is traditionally linked with the praṇava and its salvific power, aligning with the verse’s claim that praṇava leads powerfully to mokṣa without negating the manifested order.
Significance: Pilgrimage emphasizes praṇava-upāsanā and Śiva-jñāna; the teaching frames liberation as right understanding of prapañca (world) as Śiva’s manifestation rather than nihilistic denial.
Mantra: praṇava (oṃ)
Type: gayatri
Role: teaching
FAQs
This verse teaches that Oṁ (Praṇava) is Shiva’s own sacred sound-form: it does not negate the world as mere nothingness, but reveals its proper place under Pati (Shiva), and it becomes a direct means that strongly leads the seeker toward mokṣa.
In Vidyeshvara teaching, Praṇava is used to approach Saguna Shiva through worship—especially in linga-upāsanā—while realizing that the same Shiva is the transcendent Pati beyond forms; thus Oṁ bridges devotion and realization.
Japa and dhyāna on Oṁ (Praṇava)—often alongside Shiva-mantras such as the Panchākṣarī—performed with purity and steadiness, is indicated as a practical discipline that ‘powerfully leads’ the mind toward liberation.