Shloka 11
शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्
Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship
गुर्वासनाय नम इत्यासनं परिकल्पयेत् । गुरोर्मूर्तिं च तत्रैव कल्प येदुपदेशतः
gurvāsanāya nama ityāsanaṃ parikalpayet | gurormūrtiṃ ca tatraiva kalpa yedupadeśataḥ
Uttering, “Salutations to the Guru’s seat,” one should duly arrange a seat (āsana). And in that very place, one should also install the Guru’s form, in accordance with the Guru’s instruction (upadeśa).
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s yogic-ritual instructions as preserved in the Kailasa Samhita)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
It establishes that Shaiva practice begins with honoring the Guru as the channel of Śiva’s grace: the seat and the Guru’s presence are ritually established before deeper worship, aligning the seeker (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) through right guidance.
In Shaiva Siddhanta, proper Saguna worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) is learned and authorized through Guru-upadeśa; installing the Guru’s presence first safeguards the correctness of mantra, nyāsa, and worship—so the Liṅga worship becomes a means of purification and grace rather than mere external ritual.
Prepare a dedicated āsana with the mantra “gurvāsanāya namaḥ,” then establish/visualize the Guru’s form there as instructed—forming the basis for disciplined japa, dhyāna, and subsequent Śiva-pūjā.