Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
श्रद्दधानः प्रसन्नात्मा ध्याता सद्भिरुदाहृतः । ध्यै चिंतायां स्मृतो धातुः शिवचिंता मुहुर्मुहुः
śraddadhānaḥ prasannātmā dhyātā sadbhirudāhṛtaḥ | dhyai ciṃtāyāṃ smṛto dhātuḥ śivaciṃtā muhurmuhuḥ
Wer voller Glauben ist und dessen Inneres heiter und still ist, wird von den Tugendhaften ein Meditierender genannt. Die Wortwurzel dhyai wird im Sinne von „Betrachtung“ erinnert; daher ist Meditation das immer wieder und unablässig wiederkehrende Schauen auf Śiva.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Defines ‘true meditator’ as śraddhā + prasāda; frames dhyāna as repeated Śiva-cintā—an inner pilgrimage of remembrance (smaraṇa) culminating in purification and grace.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines dhyāna not as mere mental effort but as steady, faith-filled, serene contemplation of Pati (Śiva), which purifies the mind and turns it away from pāśa (bondage) toward liberation.
For Saguna worship, the Liṅga serves as a stable support for śiva-ciṃtā; repeatedly returning the mind to Śiva—through form, mantra, and devotion—is presented as the essence of meditation.
Practice continuous śiva-ciṃtā through japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna with a calm, faithful mind, repeatedly bringing attention back to Śiva.