Śivasaṃhitā 5.125

This verse brings together two densely layered concepts: turīya — «the fourth» — the state of pure awareness beyond waking, dreaming, and deep sleep; and tritayaliṅga, «the triple mark or sign». Their conjunction points to a reality that both transcends ordinary consciousness and leaves a threefold imprint within the subtle body. Liberation (mukti) is presented as the direct fruit of recognizing this.

The word liṅga here carries its philosophical rather than iconic meaning — «distinguishing mark» or «indicator» — a usage well established in Sāṃkhya epistemology and Śaiva metaphysics. The «triple liṅga» likely refers to the three granthis (Brahma, Viṣṇu, Rudra) that kuṇḍalinī must pierce, or alternatively to the three subtle bodies recognized in certain Śaiva taxonomies.

The claim that mere remembrance of this truth destroys sin and ends rebirth is a hallmark of Tantric texts that privilege gnosis over ritual accumulation. It resonates with the doctrine of jñānamukti — liberation through direct knowledge — and situates the Śivasaṃhitā within a broader non-dual Śaiva framework where recognition (pratyabhijñā) is itself the liberating act.