Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
उपगम्य गुरुं विप्रमाचार्यं तत्त्ववेदिनम् । जापितं सद्गुणोपेतं ध्यानयोगपरायणम् । तोषयेत्तं प्रयत्नेन भावशुद्धिसमन्वितः । वाचा च मनसा चैव कायेन द्रविणेन च
upagamya guruṃ vipramācāryaṃ tattvavedinam | jāpitaṃ sadguṇopetaṃ dhyānayogaparāyaṇam | toṣayettaṃ prayatnena bhāvaśuddhisamanvitaḥ | vācā ca manasā caiva kāyena draviṇena ca
Indem man sich dem Guru nähert — einem vollendeten brāhmaṇa-Ācārya, der die Tattvas kennt — soll man sich bemühen, ihn zu erfreuen: einen Lehrer, der im Japa gefestigt ist, mit edlen Eigenschaften geschmückt und dem Yoga der Meditation hingegeben. Mit gereinigter Gesinnung soll der Schüler ihn eifrig zufriedenstellen — durch Worte, durch den Geist, durch Dienst mit dem Körper und durch materielle Gaben.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that progress in Shaiva sadhana depends on approaching a true tattva-knowing guru and pleasing him with sincere inner purity, because the guru transmits right knowledge and disciplines the seeker in japa and meditation toward liberation.
In the Shiva Purana, correct Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva upasana are learned through an acharya grounded in mantra-japa and dhyana; serving such a guru safeguards the rites from ego and turns external worship into inward devotion aligned with Shiva-tattva.
The verse highlights japa and dhyana-yoga under a qualified guru, along with guru-seva expressed through respectful speech, mental reverence, physical service, and appropriate offerings.