LSBhasya53: SivA [ BhAskararAya's Commentary ]

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53 : SivA : The beneficial.

 

"From the root vaS desire, Siva is derived" That is, she is

the desire itself [ icchA ] of the supreme Siva. For this energy is

worshipped by Siva. The meaning of Siva, is given in the

SaivAgamas. "Who is as a witness to the modifications, who is in

the modifications about to rise, who is the cause of sensation, who

is the support of all false and inert matter, who is consciousness

itself, who is beloved of all, who is bliss itself, who is the means

of obtaining all, who is connected with all, the Omnipresent is

called Siva. The self shinning, pure being who is devoid of the

distinction of jIva, ISa etc. is Siva."

 

Or, as she does good [ Siva ] she is called SivA, or that in which

everything rests [ Sete ]; or who possesses excellent [ SivA ]

qualities, or that which makes calm [ Samyati ]; as the BhArata

says, ` bacause he fulfills all the actions [ of men ] intending

their good [ Siva ] he is known as Siva. O gods, the Danavas, and

the Devas are the same to me; I do good [ Siva ] to all beings.

Hence I am known as Siva." The Sruti [ Sve. Up. ] says, `The

one who is the origin [ of all ] dwells in every womb, in whom all

this is involved. The Kaivalya Up [7] says, "three-eyed, and

peaceful" All this has been brought together, by us in the

commentary on the SivAstottaraSata, a work enumerating one hundred

and eight names of Siva. "By natural purity, by possessing stainless

qualities, by superiority, by supporting the universe, by conferring

immortality [on worshippers], by the strength of icchASakti, O

ParamaSiva, thou art known by the special name as Siva, in the

scriptures"

 

Or She is identical with Siva. The Linga purana says, "As Siva is

Devi, as is Devi, so is Siva, hence, as the notions are the same,

Devi is called SivA". In another place in the same book, `In

reality there is no difference between UmA and Samkara; the one has

assumed the two forms. There is no doubt in this. Tha paramAtman is

called Siva as well as SivA" The SutasamhitA also says, "O best of

twice born ones, she who has assumed the energising aspect of that

mAyA, which is connected with one's consciousness [cinmAtre], who is

intellect, without attributes, self-shining, unchangeable, supreme

bliss, and the cause of destruction of samsAra. She is SivA, she is

the supreme Devi, one with Siva, and doer of good… he who

worships this Samkari, the ocean of mercy, what does he not obtain

by her grace?"

 

Or SivA may mean the wife of Vayu. The linga Pur. Says, "The

great god IsAna, who pervades the whole universe, the supporter of

all beings is called Vayu, in his aspect of wind god. His wife is

called SivA and his son Manojava." Again, "He who has thecrescent

moon as a crest is Vayu and his wife is SivA". In the VAyu Pr.

Also we read, "Vayu is the fourth body, of IsAna and his wife is SivA

and his son is Manojaya."

 

Or she who bestows salvation is SivA. It is said in the Devi

Pur "SivA is salvation and she bestows salvation to Yogins; she

workd for good [ Siva ]; hence she is known by men as SivA;" or

men worship Devi to reach Siva, hencee she is SivA. In the Agamas we

read, "As heat is to fire, as light to the Sun, and moonlight to

the Moon, so is SivA to Siva"

 

BhAskararAya's Commentary

Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry.