Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
अध्यापनं चाध्ययनं यजनं याजनं तथा । ध्यानमीश्वरभावश्च सततं ज्ञानशीलता । य एवं वर्तते विप्रो ज्ञानयोगस्य सिद्धये । अचिरादेव विज्ञानं लब्ध्वा योगं च विंदति । दग्ध्वा देहमिमं ज्ञानी क्षणाज्ज्ञानाग्निना प्रिये
adhyāpanaṃ cādhyayanaṃ yajanaṃ yājanaṃ tathā | dhyānamīśvarabhāvaśca satataṃ jñānaśīlatā | ya evaṃ vartate vipro jñānayogasya siddhaye | acirādeva vijñānaṃ labdhvā yogaṃ ca viṃdati | dagdhvā dehamimaṃ jñānī kṣaṇājjñānāgninā priye
Lehren und Lernen, das Darbringen des yajña und das Vollziehen des yajña für andere, dazu Meditation, das unablässige Empfinden der Gegenwart des Herrn (īśvara-bhāva) und eine unbeirrbare Neigung zum heiligen Wissen — lebt ein Brahmane so zur Vollendung des jñāna-yoga, erlangt er bald vijñāna (verwirklichte Einsicht) und findet Yoga. O Geliebte, als hätte er in einem Augenblick diesen verkörperten Zustand durch das Feuer des Wissens verbrannt, wird der Wissende frei.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Frames orthodox duties (adhyāpana, adhyayana, yajana, yājana) as preparatory purification, but culminates in vijñāna and yoga—an inner ‘tīrtha’ of knowledge-fire that liberates.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It presents a Shaiva Siddhanta-aligned discipline where scriptural learning, worshipful duty, meditation, and constant God-consciousness mature into vijñāna (realized knowledge) that burns bondage and leads to moksha under the grace and presence of Pati (Shiva).
The verse links outer dharma (yajana—ritual worship) with inner dhyāna and īśvara-bhāva, showing how Saguna worship (including Linga-upāsanā) becomes a support for purification and steady contemplation, culminating in liberating knowledge.
Regular worship (yajana) combined with meditation (dhyāna) and continuous īśvara-bhāva is emphasized; in practice this aligns with daily Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and contemplative remembrance that transforms conduct into jñāna-yoga.