Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5
न्यासत्रैविध्य-भूतशुद्धि-प्रक्रिया
Threefold Nyāsa and the Procedure of Elemental Purification
सबिंदुकान्नकारादीन्वर्णान्न्यस्येदनुक्रमात् । अंगुलीषु शिवं न्यस्येत्तलयोरप्यनामयोः । अस्त्रन्यासं ततः कृत्वा दशदिक्ष्वस्त्रमंत्रतः । निवृत्त्यादिकलाः पञ्च पञ्चभूतस्वरूपिणीः
sabiṃdukānnakārādīnvarṇānnyasyedanukramāt | aṃgulīṣu śivaṃ nyasyettalayorapyanāmayoḥ | astranyāsaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā daśadikṣvastramaṃtrataḥ | nivṛttyādikalāḥ pañca pañcabhūtasvarūpiṇīḥ
One should, in due order, place (nyāsa) the syllables beginning with “na” together with the bindu. Then one should place Śiva upon the fingers, and upon the two palms as well, for freedom from affliction. Thereafter, having performed the weapon-nyāsa (astra-nyāsa), one should extend it to the ten directions by the Astra-mantra. The five kalās beginning with Nivṛtti are to be contemplated as of the nature of the five great elements.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Mantra: (implied) na-ma-śi-vā-ya with bindu/anusvāra placements per nyāsa-prayoga
Type: panchakshara
FAQs
It teaches mantra-śarīra-bhāvanā: the sādhaka internalizes Śiva through nyāsa, establishing protection (astra) and recognizing the five kalās (powers/levels) as the subtle basis of the elemental cosmos—aligning the individual with Pati (Śiva) for purification and liberation.
Nyāsa makes the worshiper’s body a fit altar for Saguna Śiva—so Linga-pūjā is not merely external; Śiva is installed in the hands that perform abhiṣeka and offerings, and protection is invoked in all directions before approaching the Linga.
Perform kara-nyāsa (placing the Panchākṣarī beginning with “na” with bindu) on fingers and palms, then do astra-nyāsa and directional protection with the Astra-mantra, while contemplating the five kalās (starting with Nivṛtti) as corresponding to the five great elements.