Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43
न्यासत्रैविध्य-भूतशुद्धि-प्रक्रिया
Threefold Nyāsa and the Procedure of Elemental Purification
नाशिवस्तु शिवं ध्यायेन्नाशिवम्प्राप्नुयाच्छिवम् । तस्माच्छैवीं तनुं कृत्वा त्यक्त्वा च पशुभावनाम् । शिवो ऽहमिति संचिन्त्य शैवं कर्म समाचरेत् । कर्मयज्ञस्तपोयज्ञो जपयज्ञस्तदुत्तरः
nāśivastu śivaṃ dhyāyennāśivamprāpnuyācchivam | tasmācchaivīṃ tanuṃ kṛtvā tyaktvā ca paśubhāvanām | śivo 'hamiti saṃcintya śaivaṃ karma samācaret | karmayajñastapoyajño japayajñastaduttaraḥ
One whose mind is not Śiva should not meditate on Śiva; nor can one who is not turned toward Śiva attain Śiva. Therefore, making one’s whole being Śaiva and abandoning the animalistic notion of the bound soul (paśu-bhāva), one should contemplate, “I belong to Śiva,” and then practice Śaiva disciplines. Among these are taught the sacrifice of right action (karma-yajña), the sacrifice of austerity (tapo-yajña), and higher than these, the sacrifice of mantra-repetition (japa-yajña).
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s Shaiva teaching within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Mantra: शिवोऽहमिति
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches inner conversion into a Śaiva identity—dropping paśu-bhāva (bonded, instinct-driven selfhood) and adopting Śiva-oriented contemplation and discipline—so that practice becomes a true means toward Śiva-realization.
It implies that external worship (including Liṅga worship) bears fruit when supported by an inner Śaiva disposition; the devotee reshapes life into Śiva-bhāva, making ritual and meditation effective rather than merely formal.
It prioritizes japa-yajña—mantra repetition (classically the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as the highest offering, supported by disciplined action (karma-yajña) and austerity (tapo-yajña).