[Advaita-l] Siva Purana says why only Siva is Brahman

[V Subrahmanian]

Shankara has cited from the Shiva Purana to say that Shiva is the Supreme
cause. See meaning for Rudra in VSN.
On Aug 18, 2016 11:35 AM, "Venkatesh Murthy via Advaita-l" <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Some Rishis asked why only Siva is worshipped in both statue and linga
> forms. The answer is only Siva is the Niraakaara Brahman and Saakaara
> Saguna Brahman both. Therefore He is worshipped in Linga form to show
> he is Niraakaara and He is worshipped in statue form to show He is
> Saguna Brahma also. Other gods are only Saakaara and they are
> worshipped in Idols that is Vigraha only but not Linga.
>
> Vidyeswara Samhita Chapter 5
> मुनय ऊचुः ॥
>
> The Rishis said -
>
> बेरमात्रे तु सर्वत्र पूज्यन्ते देवतागणाः ।
> लिंगे बेरे च सर्वत्र कथं संपूज्यते शिवः ॥
>
> The other gods are worshipped in Idols only. How is Siva worshipped in
> Linga and Idol both?
>
> सूत उवच ॥
> Suta said -
> अहो मुनीश्वराः पुण्यं प्रश्नमेतन्महाद्भुतम् ।
> अत्र वक्ता महादेवो नान्योऽस्ति पुरुषो क्वचित् ॥
> O Rishis. This question is meritorious and wonderful. Only Mahadeva
> can answer this but not another person.
>
>
> शिवेनोक्तं प्रवक्ष्यामि क्रमाद्गुरुमुखाच्छ्रुतम् ।
> शिवैको ब्रह्मरूपत्वान्निष्कलः परिकीर्तितः ॥
>
> I will tell Siva's answer I heard from Guru's mouth. Siva alone is
> Formless like the Space because He is Brahman.
>
>
> रूपित्वात् सकलस्तद्वत् तस्मात् सकलनिष्कलः ।
> सकलत्वात्तथा बेरं साकारं तस्य संगतम् ॥
> He also has forms of many gods and therefore He is with Form and
> Formless both. His statue is possible because He has a form.
>
> निष्कलात्वान्निराकारं लिंगं तस्य समागतम् ।
> सकलाकलरूपत्वाद् ब्रह्मशब्दाभिधः परः ॥
> Linga is also possible because He is Formless and without parts the
> Undivided Brahman. He is Para Brahman because He is both with and
> without form.
> अपि लिंगे च बेरे च नित्यमध्यर्च्यते जनैः ।
> अब्रह्मत्वात् तदन्येषां निष्कलत्वं न हि क्वचित् ॥
> Therefore He is always worshipped in Linga and Vigraha by the people.
> Other gods are not Formless and therefore they are not Brahman. They
> are not worshipped in Linga but only in Vigraha.
>
> तस्मात् ते निष्कले लिंगे नाराध्यन्ते सुरेश्वराः ।
> अब्रह्मत्वाच्च जीवत्वात् तथान्ये देवतागणाः ॥
> Therefore the other gods are not worshipped in Linga because they are
> not Brahman and they are Jeevas.
> तूष्णीम् सकलमात्रत्वादर्च्यन्ते बेरमात्रके ।
> जीवत्वं शंकरान्येषां ब्रह्मत्वं शंकरस्य च ॥
> The other gods are only Saakaara or with Form and they are worshipped
> in Vigrahas. Except Shiva the gods are all Jeevas. Siva is Brahman.
>
>
> --
> Regards
>
> -Venkatesh
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