Explication of the Truth of PATHI in Saiva Siddhanta
Authors: Ponnuthurai Samitham , Pavanesan Vigneswary 
Published: February 2024

Among the triple entities of PATHI (GOD), PASU (SOUL(S) and PAASAM Among the triple entities of PATHI (GOD), PASU (SOUL(S) and PAASAM (RESTRAIN(S) of SAIVA SIDDHANTA, this research paper deals with PATHI. All of these triple entities are eternal. PATHI, the God of Saiva Siddhanta is SIVAM. SIVAN is the same. That which is related to SIVAM is SAIVAM, says Thirumanthiram. The Ultimate God of SAIVAM is SIVAN. He is the SUPREME. SAIVA SIDDHANTA explains the way to reach him. PASU, the soul(s) released from its PAASAM, the restrain(s) and merges with PATHI, the Supreme is MUKTHI, the state of fullest potency - liberation. This is the Supreme Bliss SAAYUCHCIYAM of ULTIMATE LIBERATION – PARA MUKTHI, says Thirumanthiram. This is the state of those reached the feet of the Lord by realizing His Real State Itself – THAT-SIVAM. This state of non-dual union of the two is comparable to the conjunction of the two Tamil words THAAL(The feet of the Lord) + THALAI (Head of the devotee) becoming one word THAADALAI. The SUPREME LOVE (KARUNAI) of the God PATHI is the one that helps the souls to attain this state of their fullest potency - liberation. PATHI, the God provides the souls with THANU – the body, KARANA – the instruments, PUVANA – the place – universe and BHOGA – the objects of experience, to experience as per their individual twin karma to consume the fruits of it. All these are products of MAYA as such they are called MAYEYAM. Going through this, the sprit soul gains PAASA JNANA – the worldly intelligence, PASU JNANA – the spiritual intelligence and then reaches the states of equanimity of karma – IRU-VINAI-OPPU and ripening of the Restrains ready to be removed – MALA-PARI-PAAGA for the Descent of the Salvic Potency of the God – SAKTHI-NIPAADHA ultimately to attain the SUPREME INTELLIGENCE of SIVA – PATHI JNANA. PATHI, the God inseparable with His unblemished, unconditional, unlimited supreme Love – SAKTHI, bestows the souls with His state of Supreme Intelligence – PATHI JNANA. PATHI, the God both through his REAL FORM/NATURE – SWA-RUPA/ SOROOPA LAKSHANA and OFFICIAL FORM/NATURE – THADATHTHA LAKSHANA graces the souls. God in his real form - SWA-RUPA/SOROOPA STATE is all pervasive, neither of any form nor formless and no descriptions. This STATE OF SUPREME SELF IN ITSELF is called SUDDHA SIVAM – THE PURE STATE. The same God in his official form – THADATHTHA state, assumes nine different forms for three different actions – LAYA – bestowing immersion in him, BHOGA - bestowing worldly enjoyments and ADIGAARA – bestowing status of power for the souls. The same takes the form of our ultimate GURU to grace.
As per the concept of SAT-KARYA-VAADHA, there is no effect without a cause, as such PATHI, the God is the Intelligence behind the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe as the Efficient cause – NIMITHTHA-KAARANAM. He is the cause of all these (again and again) after recurrent cycles of complete destruction, as such He, the God of Dissolution is praised as the HEAD of ALL. As per the concept of SAT-KARYA-VAADHA, there is no effect without a cause, as such PATHI, the God is the Intelligence behind the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe as the Efficient cause – NIMITHTHA-KAARANAM. He is the cause of all these (again and again) after recurrent cycles of complete destruction, as such He, the God of Dissolution is praised as the HEAD of ALL. The Supreme PATHI described in Saiva Siddhanta stands out as Omniscient cause of the all causes and actions bestows the souls with His GRACE – THIRU-ARUL. It redeem the souls by making them one with Him. It Transforms the SEEVAN, the soul by bestowing SIVAHOOD – SIAVATHTHUVAM – the godly state of INFINITE BLISS – SIVA-ANANDAM under Him. This is the Ultimate State of Non-dual Realization – ADVAITA-MUKTHI. The Real role of God in Saiva Siddhanta is to provide the souls with respective bodies, instruments, objects of enjoyment and place in multiple births until they mature enough through experience - MALAPARI-PAAGA, to bestow SIVAHOOD – the godly state ultimately. This is the True Nature of God -PATHI in Saiva Siddhanta.