Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51
दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः
Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara
पादात्तथोरुदेशाच्च पृष्ठात्पार्श्वान्मुखाद्गलात् । गुह्याद्गुल्फाच्छिरोमध्यात्कंठादास्यात्तथोदरात्
pādāttathorudeśācca pṛṣṭhātpārśvānmukhādgalāt | guhyādgulphācchiromadhyātkaṃṭhādāsyāttathodarāt
Von den Füßen, aus der Gegend der Schenkel, vom Rücken und von den Seiten; vom Antlitz und von der Kehle; vom verborgenen Glied und von den Knöcheln; aus der Mitte des Hauptes, vom Hals, vom Mund und ebenso vom Bauch—dies sind die genannten Stellen.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
It enumerates key bodily regions as a contemplative map, pointing to inner discipline where the embodied pashu (individual soul) turns awareness inward toward Pati (Shiva), loosening pasha (bondage) through purification and right knowledge.
It supports internal (antar) worship alongside external Linga worship: the devotee reveres Shiva not only in a consecrated emblem but also by sanctifying the body as a field for Shiva-oriented awareness, aligning the limited self with Saguna Shiva’s gracious presence leading toward the Nirguna truth.
A practical takeaway is limb-by-limb mindfulness during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) or during bhasma/tripundra application—remembering Shiva while purifying the body and senses, and restraining lower impulses associated with these regions.