SAIVA-SIDDHANTA

"
SOME ASPECTS OF THE GOD-HEAD. 85
Bhava, &c., and that to denote the same personality and not any
other. However this may be, the word
(<SULD)
Sivam is used-//
clearly in Tamil as the neuter Form of Siva or Bivan (Ba/sorj
as Param (uff^) of Para or Paran (un^ as Brahmam (iSffLD^)
of Brahman (Lflj^ear),
with no change of meaning in either form
That this accounts for the frequent change from one gender to
another in describing the Supreme Being, even in the same
Mantra, as in the Svetasvatara, we have already pointed out.
That all these names are also declinable in the feminine gender
without change of meaning we have also pointed out elsewhere.
Whether we say Siva, Sivam, or Siva ; Sankara, Sankaram \ f\
or Sankari ; Para, Param, or Para ;
we denote the same]
Supreme Personality. We use these words, and in these forms/
of gender, as these are all the forms or symbols we perceive inj
the material universe. To us, therefore, these names are mere
names and nothing more ;
and we affix therefore no greater
importance to one form in preference to another. Though
Professor Max Muller would prefer to call God, in the neuter,
"It
and^think it a higher name, we are thoroughly indifferent
as to calling the supreme, as He, She or If; and we accordingly
with St. Manikkavachaka praise God, as
"Behold!
He is the male and the female and the neuter."
* And yet consider the following lines from the same utterence.
Father He became
"My man, woman, and ! hermaphrodite, the Akas,
and Fire and this final Cause, and transcending all these forms, stands
the Supreme Siva, of the Body glowing
He is my Lord and the King of Gods ".
euluun iLtu
like the flame of the forest.
"He became, He and She and It and the Earth and Heaven, and
is different from all these and stands as my dear Blessedness."