Shloka 46
प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
इति जप्त्वा नमस्कृत्य साष्टांगं भुवि दण्डवत् । स्थित्वा तु प्राङ्मुखः शम्भोः पादाब्जयुगलं स्मरन्
iti japtvā namaskṛtya sāṣṭāṃgaṃ bhuvi daṇḍavat | sthitvā tu prāṅmukhaḥ śambhoḥ pādābjayugalaṃ smaran
Nachdem er so das Mantra wiederholt hatte, erwies er Ehrerbietung und warf sich in voller Niederwerfung (sāṣṭāṅga) wie ein Stab auf die Erde. Dann stellte er sich nach Osten gewandt hin und gedachte in Meditation der beiden Lotosfüße Śambhus, des Herrn Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: panchakshara
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva discipline of surrender after mantra-japa: complete humility (aṣṭāṅga/daṇḍavat praṇāma) followed by steady remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet, a bhakti-based focus that purifies the bound soul (paśu) and turns it toward Pati (Śiva).
The sequence—japa, prostration, then meditation—matches Saguna upāsanā: one worships Śiva in an approachable form (such as the Liṅga or Śambhu as Lord), and then internalizes that devotion through dhyāna on His lotus-feet, making outer ritual mature into inner contemplation.
Perform mantra-japa, offer daṇḍavat (aṣṭāṅga) prostration on the ground, then stand facing east and meditate on Lord Śiva’s lotus-feet—an integrated practice of japa, praṇāma, and dhyāna (often done alongside Shaiva observances like bhasma and rudrākṣa where prescribed).