Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 72
समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout
Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha
प्रतिमा वापि देवस्य गूढदेहमथापि वा । पूजाहोमजपध्यानसाधनानि च संभवे
pratimā vāpi devasya gūḍhadehamathāpi vā | pūjāhomajapadhyānasādhanāni ca saṃbhave
Sea una pratimā (imagen sagrada) del Señor, o incluso Su presencia sutil de cuerpo oculto, oh Śambhu: la adoración, el homa (ofrenda al fuego), el japa (repetición de mantra) y la meditación son medios válidos de realización espiritual.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It affirms that Shiva can be approached both as a worshipful form (saguṇa) and as a subtle, inner presence (beyond form), and that classical disciplines—pūjā, homa, japa, and dhyāna—are legitimate paths to Shiva’s grace and realization.
The “pratimā” points to form-based worship such as the Śiva-liṅga or a murti, while “gūḍha-deha” supports inward contemplation of Shiva as the indwelling Lord; the verse harmonizes external ritual with internal realization.
It recommends a complete Shaiva sādhanā: perform pūjā and homa as outer worship, and support them with japa (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna to internalize Shiva-consciousness.