Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
उदङ्मुखः प्राङ्मुखो वा मौनी चैकाग्रमानसः । विशोध्य पञ्चतत्त्वानि दहनप्लावनादिभिः । मन्त्रन्यासादिकं कृत्वा सफलीकृतविग्रहः । आवयोर्विग्रहौ ध्यायन्प्राणापानौ नियम्य च
udaṅmukhaḥ prāṅmukho vā maunī caikāgramānasaḥ | viśodhya pañcatattvāni dahanaplāvanādibhiḥ | mantranyāsādikaṃ kṛtvā saphalīkṛtavigrahaḥ | āvayorvigrahau dhyāyanprāṇāpānau niyamya ca
Facing north or east, observing silence and with a one-pointed mind, he should purify the five elements through inner processes such as “burning” and “flooding.” Having performed mantra-nyāsa and related rites, thus making the sacred form efficacious, he should meditate upon the divine forms of both (worshipper and the Lord united in worship), while also regulating prāṇa and apāna, the vital currents.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Provides an internalized ‘kṣetra’ (pure seat) and method (bhūta-śuddhi, nyāsa, prāṇāyāma) that functions as portable pilgrimage—turning the body into a sanctified shrine fit for Śiva-mantra.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-worship becomes fruitful when the sādhaka first purifies the elemental body-mind, steadies silence and concentration, and then unites mantra-discipline with yogic regulation of the life-currents—turning outer ritual into inner transformation under Pati (Shiva).
It frames Saguna worship as a consecrated practice: through nyāsa the devotee installs Shiva-consciousness in the limbs and makes the worship-form “effective,” so the Linga/Deity is approached with a purified elemental field and a mind fit for Shiva’s presence.
Face north/east, keep mauna, purify the pañcatattva (bhūta-śuddhi style), perform mantra-nyāsa, meditate on the divine form, and regulate prāṇa–apāna (basic prāṇāyāma/restraint) to stabilize the mind for worship.