Shloka 59
प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva
गुरोः समीपं गत्वाथ दण्डवत्प्रणमेत्त्रयम् । समुत्थाय ततस्तिष्ठेद्गुरुपादसमीपतः
guroḥ samīpaṃ gatvātha daṇḍavatpraṇamettrayam | samutthāya tatastiṣṭhedgurupādasamīpataḥ
Habiéndose acercado al Gurú, debe postrarse por completo como un bastón (daṇḍavat) tres veces. Luego, al incorporarse, debe permanecer de pie cerca de los pies del Gurú.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches vinaya (humility) and śaraṇāgati (surrender): the seeker approaches the Guru with total reverence, which purifies ego—the primary pasha (bond) obstructing Shiva-realization.
In Shaiva practice, the Guru transmits right understanding and method for Linga/Saguna Shiva worship; honoring the Guru’s feet is honoring the channel through which Shiva’s grace and correct ritual-jñāna flow.
A concrete practice is daṇḍavat praṇāma with focused remembrance of Shiva and then standing attentively near the Guru for instruction—an inner discipline that supports mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) and regulated worship.