Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 68
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
मद्भक्तजनवात्सल्यं पूजायां चानुमोदनम् । स्वयमभ्यर्चनं चैव मदर्थे चांगचेष्टितम् । मत्कथाश्रवणे भक्तिः स्वरनेत्रांगविक्रियाः । ममानुस्मरणं नित्यं यश्च मामुपजीवति
madbhaktajanavātsalyaṃ pūjāyāṃ cānumodanam | svayamabhyarcanaṃ caiva madarthe cāṃgaceṣṭitam | matkathāśravaṇe bhaktiḥ svaranetrāṃgavikriyāḥ | mamānusmaraṇaṃ nityaṃ yaśca māmupajīvati
المودّة والرفق بأهل عبادتي؛ والابتهاج بالعبادة والموافقة عليها؛ وأن يقوم المرء بنفسه بتعظيمي؛ وأن يحرّك جوارحه لأجلي؛ والإخلاص عند سماع حكاياتي المقدّسة؛ وتبدّل الصوت والعينين والأطراف من حرارة الشوق؛ ودوام ذكري؛ وأن يعيش معتمدًا عليّ—فهذه علامات البهكتي لي.
Lord Shiva (teaching the characteristics of His devotee in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse, narrated within Suta’s account)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Gives practical bhakti-lakṣaṇas that pilgrims can cultivate: service to devotees, joy in pūjā, kathā-śravaṇa, and nitya-smaraṇa—seen as signs of Śiva’s grace working in the soul.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It defines Shiva-bhakti as both inner absorption (constant remembrance and dependence on Shiva as Pati) and outer conduct (serving Shiva’s devotees, worship, and dedicating bodily actions to Him), showing devotion as a transformative state of heart and life.
The verse supports Saguna upāsanā through concrete practices—personal worship (abhyarcana), approval and encouragement of pūjā, and embodied service—typical of Linga-worship where devotion expresses itself through ritual, reverence, and daily dedication to Shiva.
Daily pūjā and attentive listening to Shiva-kathā with bhakti, combined with nitya-anusmaraṇa (constant remembrance, such as japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and practical service to Shiva’s devotees.