Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5
अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance
अथ संतर्प्य देवादींस्तदीयैः सलिलैः शिवैः । स्मरन्तः पूर्ववृत्तान्तं ययुर्वाराणसीं प्रति
atha saṃtarpya devādīṃstadīyaiḥ salilaiḥ śivaiḥ | smarantaḥ pūrvavṛttāntaṃ yayurvārāṇasīṃ prati
Dann, nachdem sie die Götter und die übrigen Wesen mit jenen heiligen, Śiva zugehörigen Wassern gebührend gesättigt hatten und der früheren Begebenheiten gedachten, brachen sie nach Vārāṇasī auf.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The narrative turns toward Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), Śiva’s city; the journey is framed as movement toward the supreme tīrtha where Śiva grants taraka-anugraha.
Significance: Propitiation with Śiva-sambandha waters and travel to Kāśī are presented as preparatory steps toward Śiva’s liberating grace.
Role: liberating
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva principle that sacred acts—such as propitiating the Devas with Śiva-connected tīrtha waters—purify intention and prepare the seeker for higher pilgrimage and liberation-oriented remembrance, here directed toward Kāśī.
The phrase “Śiva’s waters” points to saguna devotion through tangible sanctities (tīrtha, abhiṣeka, offerings). Such acts support Linga-worship by treating Śiva’s sacred mediums as carriers of grace, leading the devotee toward Śiva’s abode-like Kāśī.
A practical takeaway is tīrtha-sevana and offering sanctified water (jalārpaṇa/abhiṣeka) with remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva’s līlā—ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” while undertaking pilgrimage.