Shloka 59
प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva
गुरोः समीपं गत्वाथ दण्डवत्प्रणमेत्त्रयम् । समुत्थाय ततस्तिष्ठेद्गुरुपादसमीपतः
guroḥ samīpaṃ gatvātha daṇḍavatpraṇamettrayam | samutthāya tatastiṣṭhedgurupādasamīpataḥ
Having approached the Guru, one should prostrate fully like a staff (daṇḍavat) three times. Then, rising, one should stand near the Guru’s feet.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches vinaya (humility) and śaraṇāgati (surrender): the seeker approaches the Guru with total reverence, which purifies ego—the primary pasha (bond) obstructing Shiva-realization.
In Shaiva practice, the Guru transmits right understanding and method for Linga/Saguna Shiva worship; honoring the Guru’s feet is honoring the channel through which Shiva’s grace and correct ritual-jñāna flow.
A concrete practice is daṇḍavat praṇāma with focused remembrance of Shiva and then standing attentively near the Guru for instruction—an inner discipline that supports mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) and regulated worship.