[Advaita-l] Saguna Brahman of Chandogya is Shiva: Shiva puranam - Shankara Bhashya concordance

[V Subrahmanian]

 Shankara says in the BSB 1.2.14 that even though Brahman is nirguna, yet
in order to help upāsana the Upanishads permit saguna attributes such as
name and form to it in the form of 'this is its name' (Chandogya 1.6.7),
(it has) golden beard, moustache, etc (Chandogya 1.6.6). saying this is
saguna brahma upasana:

नाम रूपमित्येवंजातीयकमप्यनामरूपस्य ब्रह्मणोऽनुचितं निर्दिश्यमानं
दृश्यते — ‘तस्योदिति
नाम’ (छा. उ. १ । ६ । ७)
<https://advaitasharada.sringeri.net/display/bhashya/Chandogya/devanagari?page=1&id=Ch_C01_S06_V07&hl=%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE>
 ‘हिरण्यश्मश्रुः’ इत्यादि । निर्गुणमपि सद्ब्रह्म नामरूपगतैर्गुणैः
सगुणमुपासनार्थं तत्र तत्रोपदिश्यत इत्येतदप्युक्तमेव ।

The full passage of the Upanishad relevant here is:
य एषोऽन्तरादित्ये हिरण्मयः पुरुषो दृश्यते हिरण्यश्मश्रुर्हिरण्यकेश
आप्रणखात्सर्व
एव सुवर्णः ॥ ६ ॥ [Now that golden Personality who is seen within the Sun,
with golden beard and golden hair, and golden all through to the very
nail-tips.-[His name is Ut-next text.]-(6)]In the Shiva Puranam we have
these verses: शिवपुराणम्/संहिता ६ (कैलाससंहिता)/अध्यायः १९
https://sa.wikisource.org/s/zif

तं शम्भुनाथं श्रुतयो वदन्ति हि हिरण्मयम् ।।
हिरण्यबाहव इति सर्वांगस्योपलक्षलम् ।। १५ ।।
अन्यथा तत्पतित्वं तु न भवेदिति यत्नतः ।।
 *य एषोन्तरिति शंभुश्छान्दोग्ये श्रूयते शिवः* ।। १६ ।।

*हिरण्यश्मश्रुवांस्तद्वद्धिरण्यमयकेशवान् ।।**नखमारभ्य केशाग्रा सर्वत्रापि
हिरण्मयः* ।।१७।।

Here is a faithful and precise English translation of the verses you
provided:
------------------------------


*तं शम्भुनाथं श्रुतयो वदन्ति हि हिरण्मयम् ।। हिरण्यबाहव इति
सर्वाङ्गस्योपलक्षणम् ।। १५ ।।*

The *Śruti-s* indeed speak of that *Śambhunātha (Lord Śambhu)* as
*Hiraṇmaya* (golden, resplendent).
The expression *“Hiraṇyabāhavaḥ”*—“He of golden arms”—is a characteristic
description implying that *His entire form is golden*.

------------------------------


*अन्यथा तत्पतित्वं तु न भवेदिति यत्नतः ।। य एषोऽन्तरिति शंभुश्छान्दोग्ये
श्रूयते शिवः ।। १६ ।।*

Otherwise, His status as the *Supreme Lord* could not properly be
established.
The *Śambhu*, who is described as *“ya eṣo ’ntarāditye”* (“He who is within
the heart”) in the *Chāndogya Upaniṣad*, is this very *Śiva*.

------------------------------


*हिरण्यश्मश्रुवांस्तद्वद्धिरण्यमयकेशवान् ।। नखमारभ्य केशाग्रात् सर्वत्रापि
हिरण्मयः ।।१७।।*

He possesses *golden beard and moustache*, and *golden hair* likewise;
From the *tips of His nails* up to the *ends of His hair*, He is entirely *of
golden brilliance*.


We also have the famous declaration of Shankara in the BSB: 1.1.20:

स्यात्परमेश्वरस्यापि इच्छावशात् मायामयं रूपं साधकानुग्रहार्थम् ।
(१.१.७.२०)  Brahman can take, out of will, any illusory form for the sake
of benefiting the aspirant.

The context is: The specification of attributes like golden moustache,
lotus-eyes, etc. (in a certain Upasana in the Chandogya Upanishad) can't
apply to the Para Brahman which is taught in terms of  ‘
अशब्दमस्पर्शमरूपमव्ययम्’ (क. उ. १ । ३ । १५)
<https://advaitasharada.sringeri.net/display/bhashya/Kathaka/devanagari?page=1&id=Ka_C01_S03_V15&hl=%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D>
free from sound, touch etc. In the face of such an objection, the reply is:
even Para Brahman of such a specification can assume, out of will, any
a-pāramarthika form to help the aspirant in upāsana.


Thanks to Sri Gowtham Kalidas for the basic Shiva Puranam reference: Tamil
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warm regards
subbu