Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites
Morning Purity & Bath Procedure
ध्यायेद्देवं च देवीं च प्राङ्मुखो वाप्युदङ्मुखः । श्वेतादीन्नकुलीशांतांस्तच्छिष्यान्प्रणमेद्गुरुम्
dhyāyeddevaṃ ca devīṃ ca prāṅmukho vāpyudaṅmukhaḥ | śvetādīnnakulīśāṃtāṃstacchiṣyānpraṇamedgurum
Facing east—or else facing north—one should meditate upon the Lord and the Goddess. Then one should bow in reverence to the Guru, and also to his disciplic succession—beginning with Śveta and extending up to Nakulīśa—and to their disciples.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that true Shaiva practice begins with dhyāna on Pati (Śiva) together with Śakti (Devī), and is completed by humility before the Guru and the sanctified lineage that transmits right knowledge and right method.
Meditation on “the Lord and the Goddess” supports Saguna upāsanā—visualizing Śiva with His power—and such inner worship naturally complements external Linga-pūjā performed under the guidance of the Guru-paramparā.
Sit for meditation facing east or north, contemplate Śiva-Śakti, and then perform praṇāma to one’s Guru and the Shaiva lineage (ācārya-paramparā), affirming disciplined practice rather than self-directed ritual.