Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56
न्यासत्रैविध्य-भूतशुद्धि-प्रक्रिया
Threefold Nyāsa and the Procedure of Elemental Purification
नात्यंतं प्रतिपद्यंते शिवयाथात्म्यवेदनात् । आत्मस्थं यः शिवं त्यक्त्वा बहिरभ्यर्चयेन्नरः । हस्तस्थं फलमुत्सृज्य लिहेत्कूर्परमात्मनः । ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं भवेद्ध्यानाज्ज्ञानं भूयः प्रवर्तते
nātyaṃtaṃ pratipadyaṃte śivayāthātmyavedanāt | ātmasthaṃ yaḥ śivaṃ tyaktvā bahirabhyarcayennaraḥ | hastasthaṃ phalamutsṛjya lihetkūrparamātmanaḥ | jñānāddhyānaṃ bhaveddhyānājjñānaṃ bhūyaḥ pravartate
Without truly knowing Śiva’s real nature, people do not fully attain the Highest. The person who abandons Śiva abiding within the Self and instead worships only an external object is like one who throws away a fruit already in his hand and licks his own elbow. From right knowledge arises meditation, and from meditation, knowledge again advances all the more.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva is to be realized as the indwelling Lord (Pati) within; mere outer religiosity without understanding Shiva’s true nature cannot culminate in full liberation. Knowledge and meditation mutually strengthen each other on the path to moksha.
It does not reject Linga/Saguna worship; it warns against stopping at externals alone. Linga worship is meant to mature into inner recognition of Shiva’s presence in the heart, where devotion, right knowledge, and contemplation converge.
The practical takeaway is dhyāna grounded in jñāna: while performing Shiva worship (e.g., Panchakshara japa and Linga pūjā), one should also meditate on Shiva as the inner Self-lord, letting contemplation deepen understanding and vice versa.