Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
आचार्यं पूजयेद्विप्रः सर्वदातिप्रयत्नतः । हस्त्यश्वरथरत्नानि क्षेत्राणि च गृहाणि च । भूषणानि च वासांसि धान्यानि च धनानि च । एतानि गुरवे दद्याद्भक्त्या च विभवे सति
ācāryaṃ pūjayedvipraḥ sarvadātiprayatnataḥ | hastyaśvaratharatnāni kṣetrāṇi ca gṛhāṇi ca | bhūṣaṇāni ca vāsāṃsi dhānyāni ca dhanāni ca | etāni gurave dadyādbhaktyā ca vibhave sati
Mit beständigem und ernsthaftem Bemühen soll der Dvija (Zweimalgeborene) den Ācārya, den geistlichen Lehrer, ehren und verehren. Wenn Mittel vorhanden sind, soll er dem Guru in Bhakti Gaben darbringen: Elefanten, Pferde, Wagen, kostbare Juwelen, Felder und Häuser, Schmuck und Gewänder, Getreide und Reichtum.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that reverence to the ācārya is a primary Shaiva discipline: devotion becomes fruitful when guided by the guru, and selfless giving (dāna) purifies attachment, supporting the soul’s progress toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.
In Shaiva practice, proper Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion are learned and safeguarded through the ācārya; honoring the guru is therefore treated as honoring the living conduit of Shiva’s instruction, mantra, and ritual order.
Guru-pūjā and dāna according to one’s means—offering wealth, food, clothing, or support to the teacher—along with disciplined devotion; the verse implies regulated practice under guidance rather than unguided austerity.