Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 46
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
अथाविरक्तचित्ता ये वर्णिनो मदुपाश्रिताः । ज्ञानचर्याक्रियास्वेव ते ऽधिकुर्युस्तदर्हकाः । द्विधा मत्पूजनं ज्ञेयं बाह्यमाभ्यंतरं तथा । वाङ्मनःकायभेदाच्च त्रिधा मद्भजनं विदुः
athāviraktacittā ye varṇino madupāśritāḥ | jñānacaryākriyāsveva te 'dhikuryustadarhakāḥ | dvidhā matpūjanaṃ jñeyaṃ bāhyamābhyaṃtaraṃ tathā | vāṅmanaḥkāyabhedācca tridhā madbhajanaṃ viduḥ
Nun sollen jene Suchenden (Brahmacārins und disziplinierte Schüler), deren Geist noch nicht völlig entsagt hat, die aber bei Mir Zuflucht genommen haben—da sie dafür geeignet sind—sich umso mehr den Wegen von Erkenntnis, rechter Lebensführung und heiligem Handeln widmen. Wisse: Meine Verehrung ist zweifach, äußerlich und innerlich. Und weil die Hingabe an Mich durch Wort, Geist und Leib geschieht, erkennen die Weisen Meine Verehrung auch als dreifach.
Lord Shiva (teaching as Pati, the Supreme Lord, within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that even aspirants not yet fully dispassionate can progress by taking refuge in Shiva and strengthening the triad of jñāna (right understanding), caryā (disciplined conduct), and kriyā (sacred practice), integrating worship outwardly and inwardly through speech, mind, and body.
External worship aligns with Saguna Shiva and Linga-pūjā—offerings, mantra, and rites—while internal worship points to meditative absorption and inner purification, where the Linga is contemplated as Shiva-consciousness within.
Perform external pūjā with mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī), and cultivate internal worship through mental japa, dhyāna on Shiva, and ethical discipline—so that speech, mind, and body become unified in devotion.