of His true nature. Suddhavidya is the real state of Shiva or the state of aham aham-idam ida, Ishvara which is the state of idam-aham, Sadashiva is the state of aham-idam and Shakti is the state of aham. In the first section of aham aham-idam idam, aham aham signifies the stable state associated with one's cognition of the real nature of Self, the truth of this universe, and the second section idam idam signifies the unstable state when one experiences the universe is false and unreal. The fourth energy called the pralayakala pramatri shakti makes one reside in the state of Suddhavidya. Shaivism defines sristi ("Creation") as the act of the Supreme Lord making idam ('object') appear through self-manifestation in the background of akasha (void or space) created by self-limitation or self-negation. Here Idam signifies the Anatman which Idamta though not different from Ahamta is not eternal; the self-experience of Ahamta prevails over the self-experience of indistinct Idamta which disappears on attaining the stithi state – aham eva idam ("I am all this"). Idamta, a self-extension, aids in the realization of Paramshiva. References Hindu philosophical concepts Yoga concepts Vedanta Shaivism Sanskrit words and phrases Vyakarana