Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25
अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance
प्रविश्य दूरतो देवं प्रणम्य भुवि दंडवत् । समीपे तदनुज्ञाताः परिवृत्योपतस्थिरे
praviśya dūrato devaṃ praṇamya bhuvi daṃḍavat | samīpe tadanujñātāḥ parivṛtyopatasthire
Nachdem sie eingetreten waren, verneigten sie sich aus der Ferne vor dem Herrn, indem sie sich in Dandavat der Länge nach auf die Erde warfen. Dann, nachdem sie Seine Erlaubnis empfangen hatten, traten sie näher, stellten sich um Ihn und dienten Ihm in ehrfürchtiger Hingabe.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Models the proper darśana-krama: distant salutation, daṇḍavat-praṇāma, then approach only by the Lord’s anujñā—seen as a template for temple etiquette.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta mood of surrender: the devotee approaches Pati (Shiva) with humility—first offering complete prostration, then serving only after receiving divine grace and permission.
It reflects proper āgamic etiquette in Saguna worship: maintain reverent distance, offer daṇḍavat praṇāma, and then come closer for upacāra (service) only in a sanctified, permitted manner—applicable to Linga-darśana and temple approach.
Practice daṇḍavat praṇāma before Shiva (or the Linga) and then remain in attentive upāsanā/sevā—approaching with inward restraint, as if seeking the Lord’s anujñā (gracious consent) before engaging in worship.