Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
अव्याक्षिप्तेन मनसा ध्यानमित्यभिधीयते । बुद्धिप्रवाहरूपस्य ध्यानस्यास्यावलंबनम्
avyākṣiptena manasā dhyānamityabhidhīyate | buddhipravāharūpasya dhyānasyāsyāvalaṃbanam
When the mind is not scattered, that state is called meditation (dhyāna). For this meditation—whose nature is an unbroken stream of discerning awareness (buddhi)—a steady support (ālambana) is to be held.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Teaches the practical lakṣaṇa of dhyāna (avyākṣepa) and the need for ālambana; supports sādhakas in stabilizing attention as a prerequisite for Śiva’s grace.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines true dhyāna as an undistracted mind and an unbroken flow of discerning awareness, pointing to inner steadiness as the doorway to Shiva-realization and liberation in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.
The verse highlights ālambana—an inner support for meditation—which in Saguna worship is commonly the Shiva-Linga, Shiva’s form, or the Panchakshara; such a support stabilizes the mind until awareness becomes a continuous stream directed to Shiva.
Adopt one steady ālambana—such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing the Linga—and maintain an unbroken attentive flow (buddhi-pravāha), minimizing distraction; this is the practical takeaway of the verse.