Shloka 91
प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
सम्मितं च ततः पञ्चसंवत्सरमयं ततः । समाम्नायस्समाम्नातः अथ शिक्षां वदेत्पुनः । प्रवक्ष्यामीत्युदीर्याथ वृद्धिरादैच्च सम्वदेत्
sammitaṃ ca tataḥ pañcasaṃvatsaramayaṃ tataḥ | samāmnāyassamāmnātaḥ atha śikṣāṃ vadetpunaḥ | pravakṣyāmītyudīryātha vṛddhirādaicca samvadet
Thereafter, the measured discipline of recitation is to be maintained for five years. When the sacred oral corpus (samāmnāya) has thus been duly received and preserved, one should again teach Śikṣā, the science of phonetics and right articulation. Declaring, “I shall now expound,” one should then explain the principles of vṛddhi (vowel-strengthening) and the diphthongs ai and au as well.
Lord Shiva (teaching in the Kailāsa-saṃhitā discourse tradition)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that sacred sound must be received through disciplined training and correct transmission; in Shaiva understanding, purified śabda supports purification of the mind and steadiness in japa and yoga, which in turn prepares the seeker for Shiva-realization.
Linga-worship commonly includes mantra-japa and Vedic/Agamic recitation; the verse emphasizes that such worship becomes spiritually effective when the mantra and recitation are learned and articulated correctly, honoring Shiva as the Lord of mantra and sound.
A practical takeaway is disciplined mantra study and japa under guidance—learning correct pronunciation (śikṣā) and maintaining measured recitation, especially when doing Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) in daily worship.