Paramashiva, Paramaśiva, Parama-shiva: 7 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Paramashiva means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Paramaśiva can be transliterated into English as Paramasiva or Paramashiva, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: bhagavadgitausa.com: Kashmir Saivism

Paramasiva = Purnahanta = The Perfect I-Consciousness. He is all sounds, all letters, all words, all sentences, all Tattvas, and all existence. There is nothing that He is not. He has five powers: Sarva Kartritvam, Sarva Jnatvam, Purnatvam, Nityatvam, and Vyapaktvam (power of performing any and all acts, all knowledge, all fullness, eternality, and all-pervasiveness). These powers become limited in the individual soul in the following Tattvas: KalA, Vidya, RAga, KAla, and Niyati.

Source: McGill: The architectural theory of the Mānasāra (shaivism)

Paramaśiva (परमशिव).—Parama Śiva is the inert and formless state of absolute transcendence beyond all categories in which śiva, divine agency, śakti, its instrumentaiity (energy or power), and bindu, its poteney (pure materiality in a nuclear state), are in perfect union. This undifferentiated state of śiva, śakti and bindu in and as Parama Śiva is disturbed when “being discerns itself”, so to speak, effecting a tension in the equilibrium of bindu. As a result, divine agency and instrumentality are differentiated.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Paramaśiva (परमशिव) refers to “higher Śiva”, according to the Netratantroddyota commentary on the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 8.8-9, while describing the purification process of the initiand]—“[Śivahood [is that] whose level is parāparapada, ‘but Śiva, the ultimate cause, engages in action established in that’ Stated in the Svacchanda Tantra, [for the initiation of] Ācāryas, the [Mantrin] should perform fusion with lower Śiva (aparaśiva-yojana) after he has fused them with higher Śiva (paramaśiva-yojana-anantara). For Sādhakas, immediately after fusion with Śiva, the [Mantrin] should perform unification with Sadāśiva. For the Putraka, [he should join him with] the highest tattva, [and for the] Samayin, īśvara-tattva. This is the distribution”.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Viśvedeva (विश्वेदेव) is the name of a deity corresponding to a “Rudraksha with fourteen faces” (Caturdaśamukha), according to the Śivapurāṇa 1.25, while explaining the greatness of Rudrākṣa:—“[...] a Rudrākṣa with fourteen faces (caturdaśamukha) is the highest Śiva [viz., Paramaśiva]. It shall be worn on the head with great devotion. It quells all sins”.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Paramaśiva (परमशिव) refers to the “Supreme Śiva”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “The goddess (Kubjikā, as the Vidyā) of thirty-two (syllables) who is Supreme Śiva’s energy [i.e., paramaśiva-kalā], is Kaulinī (who possesses an) adamantine body (vajradehā). She has come down along the Path of Meru and is the five sacred seats (that is, the Five Praṇavas) at the beginning and end (of her Vidyā), and the best of the gods bow to her. In the division (she is) the New and the Full Moon (amā and pūrṇā) and is endowed with the parts (pada) and instruments (karaṇa) (of the Vidyā). She is the sixteen(fold) Command and is well energized (sudīptā) by the seven Peak (Syllables). (She is) Nityā, who quells the fear of phenomenal existence. O mistress (svāminī)! Tell (me) the Vidyā”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Dharma Inc: The 36 Tattvas of Śakta-Śaiva Dharma

Paramasiva is not an eternal thing that has form and substance. Nor is it a concept, as it lies beyond the reach of conceptual understanding. Paramaśiva is nothing but pure “Awareness-Light” (prakasa), “stir of blissfulness” (spanda). It is dependent upon nothing and all is dependent upon it. It is eternally fresh and immediate (nitya) and absolutely without limitation/free (svatantrya). It is Ultimate Potency (parasakti). It has no set pattern of manifestation such as the seed in relation to the tree, nor compulsion to manifest itself as material existence. Yet still, here we are, and this “is”. It is beyond subject-object distinctions and yet playfully hosts all such distinctions (lila) without itself getting bound.

Paramasiva is who we all are at essence. Not only is it our most essential reality of being, it is the formless base giving rise to, and hosting our sense of individuality and the variegation of the entire manifest world. It unconditionally hosts our ignorant choices (through which we exercise our limited version of Paramasiva’s Pure Freedom) that cause us suffering and bondage to the wheel of karma and the cycle of repeated birth – death – and rebirth.

Yet Paramasiva is not a “god”. It is not a separate being. Paramasiva is far from the sense of separateness and purpose that a god (or any individual being) needs to exist. It has no sacred books, nor commandments to give, nor covenants with followers. It doesn’t need nor require worship or supplication. There is nothing one can do to gain its favor or to “fall from its grace”. There is no heaven where it lives, nor a force of evil it battles. It did not “create” us or anything else for that matter.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Paramaśiva (परमशिव):—[=parama-śiva] [from parama > para] (with ācārya and vendra-sarasvatī) m. Name of authors.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Relevant text

Search found 21 books and stories containing Paramashiva, Paramaśiva, Parama-shiva, Paramasiva, Parama-śiva, Parama-siva; (plurals include: Paramashivas, Paramaśivas, shivas, Paramasivas, śivas, sivas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

3. Tattvas (Principles) of Kashmir Śaivism < [Chapter 3 - A Brief Sketch of Kashmir Śaivism]

Appendix: List of Technical Terms of Kashmir Śaivism

7. Concept of Mokṣa in the Gītārthasaṅgraha < [Chapter 4 - Critical Study of the Gītārthasaṅgraha]

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Verse 42 < [Section 7]

Verse 37 < [Section 6]

Verse 43 < [Section 7]

+ 8 more chapters / show preview

Conclusion

Part 13 - Thirty-six Tattvas (elements) of Śaivism < [Philosophy of Kashmir Tantric System]

Part 6 - Ṣaḍadhvā (six ways in the process of creation) < [Philosophy of Kashmir Tantric System]

+ 9 more chapters / show preview