Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21
पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra
शिवपूजाविधिं कुर्याद्यदीच्छेच्छिवमात्मनः । त्वरितं जीवितं याति त्वरितं याति यौवनम्
śivapūjāvidhiṃ kuryādyadīcchecchivamātmanaḥ | tvaritaṃ jīvitaṃ yāti tvaritaṃ yāti yauvanam
إن كان المرءُ يبتغي شيفا لذاته—أي نعمةَ الربّ الذي هو «پَتي»—فليؤدِّ طريقةَ عبادةِ شيفا على الوجه المأثور. فإن الحياةَ تمضي سريعًا، وكذلك الشبابُ يزول سريعًا.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; it is a didactic reminder of impermanence (anityatā) to motivate proper Śiva-pūjā as an upāya toward Śiva-realization.
Significance: Frames worship as time-sensitive sādhana; encourages immediate engagement in caryā/kriyā before bodily decline, aligning with pilgrimage ethos of ‘now, not later’.
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It teaches vairagya (dispassion) and urgency in sadhana: since life and youth are fleeting, one should promptly take refuge in Shiva through disciplined worship to attain His grace and liberation.
By urging “śiva-pūjā-vidhi,” it supports Saguna upasana—worship of Shiva with form and rite (often through the Shiva-Linga)—as a direct means to receive Pati’s anugraha (grace) and progress toward realization.
Perform Shiva-puja according to vidhi—regular worship with mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara), purity and devotion; the verse’s main takeaway is to begin immediately, without postponement.