Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53
अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace
यस्तूपकारशब्दार्थस्तमप्याहुरनुग्रहम् । तस्यापि हितरूपत्वाच्छिवः सर्वोपकारकः
yastūpakāraśabdārthastamapyāhuranugraham | tasyāpi hitarūpatvācchivaḥ sarvopakārakaḥ
وما يدلّ عليه لفظ «المعونة» يُسمّى أيضاً «النعمة» (أنوغراها). ولأنّ تلك المعونة أيضاً ذاتُ طبيعةِ الخير الحقّ، فإن شيفا—الذي ماهيّتُه الإحسان—هو المُحسنُ العامّ لجميع الكائنات.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Defines ‘help/benefaction’ (upakāra) as anugraha, grounding pilgrimage and worship in the conviction that Śiva’s essential nature is universal welfare (sarvopakāra).
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It equates ordinary “help” (upakāra) with Shiva’s “grace” (anugraha), teaching that all true welfare—worldly support and liberation-oriented guidance—ultimately flows from Pati (Shiva), the supreme benefactor.
By affirming Shiva as the giver of anugraha, it supports Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā—as a direct means to seek and receive Shiva’s benevolent grace, which purifies the soul and loosens pāśa (bondage).
Approach Shiva as the source of grace through steady bhakti: daily Linga worship with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offered with the intention of hita (inner welfare) rather than mere worldly gain.