Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53
अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace
यस्तूपकारशब्दार्थस्तमप्याहुरनुग्रहम् । तस्यापि हितरूपत्वाच्छिवः सर्वोपकारकः
yastūpakāraśabdārthastamapyāhuranugraham | tasyāpi hitarūpatvācchivaḥ sarvopakārakaḥ
Was mit dem Wort „Hilfe“ gemeint ist, nennt man ebenfalls „Gnade“ (anugraha). Und da auch sie die Natur wahren Heils hat, ist Śiva — dessen Wesen Wohltat ist — der universale Wohltäter aller.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Defines ‘help/benefaction’ (upakāra) as anugraha, grounding pilgrimage and worship in the conviction that Śiva’s essential nature is universal welfare (sarvopakāra).
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It equates ordinary “help” (upakāra) with Shiva’s “grace” (anugraha), teaching that all true welfare—worldly support and liberation-oriented guidance—ultimately flows from Pati (Shiva), the supreme benefactor.
By affirming Shiva as the giver of anugraha, it supports Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā—as a direct means to seek and receive Shiva’s benevolent grace, which purifies the soul and loosens pāśa (bondage).
Approach Shiva as the source of grace through steady bhakti: daily Linga worship with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offered with the intention of hita (inner welfare) rather than mere worldly gain.