Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14
शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)
तस्माल्लिंगानि संवीक्ष्य शक्तिपातस्य भूयसः । ज्ञानेन क्रियया वाथ गुरुश्शिष्यं विशोधयेत्
tasmālliṃgāni saṃvīkṣya śaktipātasya bhūyasaḥ | jñānena kriyayā vātha guruśśiṣyaṃ viśodhayet
অতএব শক্তিপাতের প্রবল লক্ষণসমূহ ভালোভাবে পর্যবেক্ষণ করে গুরু শিষ্যকে জ্ঞানদানে অথবা বিধিবদ্ধ ক্রিয়া‑অনুষ্ঠানের দ্বারা শুদ্ধ করবেন।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that spiritual progress depends on śaktipāta (divine grace) and that a competent Guru must assess the disciple’s readiness and then purify them through right knowledge (jñāna) and/or disciplined practice (kriyā), aligning the soul toward Shiva-realization.
In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship and other saguna disciplines are effective when guided by a Guru and supported by grace; the verse emphasizes that the Guru prepares the disciple—through understanding and proper observances—so Linga-upāsanā becomes purifying rather than merely external.
It points to kriyā under a Guru’s guidance—such as regulated Shiva-pūjā (including Linga worship), mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara), and yogic discipline—combined with jñāna, the inner understanding that these practices culminate in devotion and liberation through Shiva’s grace.