Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)
शिष्याः प्रत्येकमेतेषां चत्वारश्शांतचेतसः । श्वेतादयश्च रुष्यांतांस्तान्ब्रवीमि यथाक्रमम्
śiṣyāḥ pratyekameteṣāṃ catvāraśśāṃtacetasaḥ | śvetādayaśca ruṣyāṃtāṃstānbravīmi yathākramam
Jeder von ihnen hatte vier Schüler, alle von friedvollem Geist. Beginnend mit Śveta und den übrigen—jenen verehrungswürdigen ṛṣis—werde ich sie nun der Reihe nach darlegen.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it introduces the disciplic expansion (each ācārya having four śiṣyas), emphasizing orderly revelation and preservation of Śaiva yoga across ages.
Significance: Highlights the sanctity of śiṣya-paramparā and śānta-citta (inner tranquility) as the qualification for receiving Śiva’s teaching—key Siddhānta sādhanā prerequisite.
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Yuga-wise succession of disciples within the Vārāha-kalpa framework (continuation of the kalpa/manvantara setting).
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva ideal of śānta-citta—inner tranquility—as the foundation for receiving Shiva-tattva through an authentic guru–disciple lineage, where wisdom is transmitted in an orderly, disciplined way.
By emphasizing calm-minded disciples and a structured teaching lineage, the verse supports the Purana’s method: approach Saguna Shiva (often through Linga worship) with purified attention, guided by rishis who preserve correct doctrine and ritual.
The implied practice is mental pacification—steady japa (such as the Panchakshara) and meditative restraint—so the seeker becomes śānta-cetasaḥ, fit to learn and perform Shaiva worship with focus and devotion.