Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 68
समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout
Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha
वरं प्राणपरित्यागश्छेदनं शिरसो ऽपि वा । न त्वनभ्यर्च्य भुंजीय भगवन्तं त्रिलोचनम्
varaṃ prāṇaparityāgaśchedanaṃ śiraso 'pi vā | na tvanabhyarcya bhuṃjīya bhagavantaṃ trilocanam
Es ist besser, das Leben aufzugeben oder sich sogar den Kopf abschlagen zu lassen, als Speise zu sich zu nehmen, ohne zuvor den gesegneten dreiäugigen Herrn zu verehren.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Establishes niyama: never eat without prior Śiva-arcana; such discipline is taught as a means to loosen pāśa (bondage) and invite anugraha.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that a devotee must place Śiva (Pati) above bodily needs; even ordinary enjoyment like eating becomes sanctified only when preceded by worship, expressing total surrender and devotion.
It affirms Saguna worship—approaching the Three-Eyed Lord through concrete acts like pūjā and arcanā (often to the Śiva-liṅga)—so that daily life is offered to Śiva before one partakes of its fruits.
Perform a brief Śiva-arcanā before meals—mentally or physically—such as offering water to the liṅga, applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra), chanting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and then eating as prasāda.