Stories from the Shiva Purana - 19 (Advaita Vedanta in the Shiva Purana)
6 views
Skip to first unread message
S Jayanarayanan
Dec 20, 2025, 2:26:43 PM (9 days ago) Dec 20
to Chaturamnaya List, A. Discussion Group for Advaita Vedanta, Advaitin Google-Groups
(Continued from the previous post. Shiva Purana is really an Advaitic text teaching Vedanta in an easy to understand form:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226544.html
Section 4, Chapter 43)
The Knowledge of Shiva is a great secret as it is the form of the Highest Salvation. In the assembly of Brahma, Narada, Kumara, Vyasa and Kapila they had
discussed this and come to this conclusion. It shall be known that the entire universe is wholly Shiva. That Shiva is in everything must be known by the
learned scholar.
Beginning with Brahma and ending with a blade of grass, whatever is seen as constituting the universe is Shiva himself. That Deity is called Shiva.
When He wishes, this is created. He alone knows all. No one knows Him. He Himself creates it and enters it but stands far off. The Chitsvarupa (knowledge-formed)
being who is pure does not really enter it.
Luminary beings are reflected in water etc. They do not actually enter them. Similarly Shiva too appears entering other things. Really Shiva alone,
the Auspicious Being, manifests Himself. The ignorance of the same is a defect of the mind. In fact there is no second entity. In all philosophical systems,
the concept of duality is evident. But the Vedantins call Him eternal and Non-dualistic. The individual soul, though it is a part of His becomes deluded by Avidya.
He then thinks that he is different. If he is released from Avidya, he becomes Shiva.
Shiva pervades all creatures. He is the Lord of the sentient and the insentient. He is the benefactor. He who cleverly tries means of realising Him after resorting
to the Vedantic path attains the fruit of His sight. Just as the pervading fire is latent in every block of wood, but only he who churns it sees it manifested,
so also, the clever devotee who makes use of the expedients of devotion etc. certainly reaches Shiva.
Lord Shiva is everywhere. There is nothing else. Shiva appears in different forms always due to our illusion. The ocean or the lump of clay or the piece of gold
attains different shapes due to delimiting conditions. Shiva too is so. There is one essential difference between the material cause and its effect. The difference
is due to illusory perception. If the one ceases to exist, the other is quelled. The shooting sprout from a seed may exhibit multiplicity but ultimately it becomes
the seed and the shoot perishes. The perfectly wise is the seed. Deformity is the sprout. When the deformity disappears he becomes the perfectly wise again.
There is nothing to doubt in this regard.
Everything is Shiva. Shiva is everything. There is no difference at all. How is this manifoldness seen? How is the unity regained? Just as the luminary called
the sun is seen differently in water etc. so also is the case with it. The all-pervading sky is not bound or fettered anywhere. So also the all-pervading Lord is
not bound anywhere. The individual soul is contaminated by the ego. Shiva is free from it. The individual soul is insignificant and it experiences the fruits
of actions. But the Great Shiva is uncontaminated.
Gold mixed with silver or other base metal depreciates in value. So also is the individual soul in its association with the ego. When a gold alloy is purified
with chemicals it regains its original value. Similarly the consecrated soul too attains purity. The devotee at the outset shall go to a competent preceptor
with devout and reverential feelings. He shall worship and serve him considering him Shiva. Thanks to this conception, all sins and dirts are removed from the body.
When he gains knowledge his ignorance disappears.
Freed from the ego, the individual soul attains pure intellect. Thanks to Shiva’s Grace he attains the state of Shiva again. Just as one sees one’s own form in
the mirror so also the pure soul sees the all-pervading Shiva, certainly. He becomes the living liberated soul. When the body perishes he merges into Shiva.
The body is begot by the Prarabdha karman. The perfectly wise is considered different from it. If a person is not elated on acquiring something good and is not
annoyed on acquiring something bad and if he has equanimity, he is said to be perfectly wise.
By the practice of Yoga, discrimination between the different principles is generated. Then there is a desire to get released from the body. The aspirant then
is blessed with devotion to Shiva. From devotion there arises love; from love, the desire to hear about the Lord; from this desire, association with the good
and from this association a competent preceptor is attained. If knowledge is attained, he certainly becomes liberated. Hence, if one desires to be perfectly
wise, one should worship Shiva alone always. He shall worship Shiva with unflinching and exclusive devotion. Salvation is the result. There is nothing to be
doubtful about this.
There is no other deity greater than Shiva for the attainment of salvation. After seeking refuge in Him, one withdraws from worldly existence.
(To be Continued)
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226544.html
Section 4, Chapter 43)
The Knowledge of Shiva is a great secret as it is the form of the Highest Salvation. In the assembly of Brahma, Narada, Kumara, Vyasa and Kapila they had
discussed this and come to this conclusion. It shall be known that the entire universe is wholly Shiva. That Shiva is in everything must be known by the
learned scholar.
Beginning with Brahma and ending with a blade of grass, whatever is seen as constituting the universe is Shiva himself. That Deity is called Shiva.
When He wishes, this is created. He alone knows all. No one knows Him. He Himself creates it and enters it but stands far off. The Chitsvarupa (knowledge-formed)
being who is pure does not really enter it.
Luminary beings are reflected in water etc. They do not actually enter them. Similarly Shiva too appears entering other things. Really Shiva alone,
the Auspicious Being, manifests Himself. The ignorance of the same is a defect of the mind. In fact there is no second entity. In all philosophical systems,
the concept of duality is evident. But the Vedantins call Him eternal and Non-dualistic. The individual soul, though it is a part of His becomes deluded by Avidya.
He then thinks that he is different. If he is released from Avidya, he becomes Shiva.
Shiva pervades all creatures. He is the Lord of the sentient and the insentient. He is the benefactor. He who cleverly tries means of realising Him after resorting
to the Vedantic path attains the fruit of His sight. Just as the pervading fire is latent in every block of wood, but only he who churns it sees it manifested,
so also, the clever devotee who makes use of the expedients of devotion etc. certainly reaches Shiva.
Lord Shiva is everywhere. There is nothing else. Shiva appears in different forms always due to our illusion. The ocean or the lump of clay or the piece of gold
attains different shapes due to delimiting conditions. Shiva too is so. There is one essential difference between the material cause and its effect. The difference
is due to illusory perception. If the one ceases to exist, the other is quelled. The shooting sprout from a seed may exhibit multiplicity but ultimately it becomes
the seed and the shoot perishes. The perfectly wise is the seed. Deformity is the sprout. When the deformity disappears he becomes the perfectly wise again.
There is nothing to doubt in this regard.
Everything is Shiva. Shiva is everything. There is no difference at all. How is this manifoldness seen? How is the unity regained? Just as the luminary called
the sun is seen differently in water etc. so also is the case with it. The all-pervading sky is not bound or fettered anywhere. So also the all-pervading Lord is
not bound anywhere. The individual soul is contaminated by the ego. Shiva is free from it. The individual soul is insignificant and it experiences the fruits
of actions. But the Great Shiva is uncontaminated.
Gold mixed with silver or other base metal depreciates in value. So also is the individual soul in its association with the ego. When a gold alloy is purified
with chemicals it regains its original value. Similarly the consecrated soul too attains purity. The devotee at the outset shall go to a competent preceptor
with devout and reverential feelings. He shall worship and serve him considering him Shiva. Thanks to this conception, all sins and dirts are removed from the body.
When he gains knowledge his ignorance disappears.
Freed from the ego, the individual soul attains pure intellect. Thanks to Shiva’s Grace he attains the state of Shiva again. Just as one sees one’s own form in
the mirror so also the pure soul sees the all-pervading Shiva, certainly. He becomes the living liberated soul. When the body perishes he merges into Shiva.
The body is begot by the Prarabdha karman. The perfectly wise is considered different from it. If a person is not elated on acquiring something good and is not
annoyed on acquiring something bad and if he has equanimity, he is said to be perfectly wise.
By the practice of Yoga, discrimination between the different principles is generated. Then there is a desire to get released from the body. The aspirant then
is blessed with devotion to Shiva. From devotion there arises love; from love, the desire to hear about the Lord; from this desire, association with the good
and from this association a competent preceptor is attained. If knowledge is attained, he certainly becomes liberated. Hence, if one desires to be perfectly
wise, one should worship Shiva alone always. He shall worship Shiva with unflinching and exclusive devotion. Salvation is the result. There is nothing to be
doubtful about this.
There is no other deity greater than Shiva for the attainment of salvation. After seeking refuge in Him, one withdraws from worldly existence.
(To be Continued)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages