Shloka 15
शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्
Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship
मूर्तिम्प्रकल्प्य तत्रैव गणानां त्वेति मंत्रतः । समावाह्य ततो देवं ध्यायेदेका ग्रमानसः
mūrtimprakalpya tatraiva gaṇānāṃ tveti maṃtrataḥ | samāvāhya tato devaṃ dhyāyedekā gramānasaḥ
Modelando allí mismo una imagen (para el culto) y, mediante el mantra que comienza con «gaṇānāṁ tv…», debe invocarse al Deva para que habite en ella. Después, con la mente unificada en un solo punto, debe meditarse en ese Deva (Śiva).
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-method teachings as preserved in the Kailasa Samhita)
Tattva Level: pashu
Mantra: gaṇānāṃ tv… (mantra-beginning indicated)
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that outer worship (forming an image and invoking the Lord by mantra) must culminate in inner ekāgratā—one-pointed meditation on Pati (Śiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, disciplined upāsanā purifies the bound soul (paśu) and loosens bonds (pāśa), preparing it for Shiva’s grace.
The verse describes saguna upāsanā: establishing a tangible support for devotion (mūrti/arca) and performing āvāhana (invocation). This principle equally applies to Śiva-liṅga worship, where the liṅga serves as the sacred focus through which the devotee steadies the mind and contemplates Śiva’s presence.
It indicates (1) preparing a worship-form (mūrti), (2) invoking Śiva with an appropriate mantra (āvāhana), and (3) meditating with one-pointed concentration (ekāgra-dhyāna). The practical takeaway is to let mantra-led ritual mature into steady dhyāna on Śiva.