Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 169
पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्
Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva
शैवा माहेश्वराश्चैव ज्ञानकर्मपरायणाः । कर्मेदमनुमन्यंतां सफलं साध्वनुष्ठितम्
śaivā māheśvarāścaiva jñānakarmaparāyaṇāḥ | karmedamanumanyaṃtāṃ saphalaṃ sādhvanuṣṭhitam
Mögen die Śaivas und die Māheśvaras — die dem befreienden Wissen wie auch dem heiligen Handeln hingegeben sind — dieses Ritual billigen; es ist recht vollzogen und wahrhaft fruchtbringend.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse in the Vāyavīya Saṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; it is a ritual-closure/saṅkalpa-style appeal for assent (anumati) from Śaiva/Māheśvara communities, implying that right performance (sādhv-anuṣṭhāna) yields fruit by Śiva’s grace.
Significance: Highlights the Śaiva Siddhānta balance of jñāna and kriyā: pilgrimage/ritual is ‘fruitful’ when aligned with knowledge and proper observance under Śiva’s ordinance.
FAQs
It affirms a key Shaiva Siddhanta balance: spiritual maturity includes both right knowledge (jñāna) and rightly performed sacred action (karma), and a properly executed Shiva-oriented rite becomes truly “fruitful” when endorsed by the Shaiva community and aligned with dharma.
The verse reflects the Saguna mode of worship—formal ritual action offered to Maheśvara (often through the Liṅga)—while emphasizing that such worship is most effective when guided by jñāna, i.e., understanding Shiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants grace and liberation.
It generally points to disciplined Shiva-pūjā done correctly—such as Liṅgārcana with mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—where the practitioner unites external observance (karma) with inner contemplation (jñāna).