Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
सूक्ष्माश्रयं निर्विषयं नापरं परमार्थतः । यद्वा सविषयं ध्यानं तत्साकारसमाश्रयम्
sūkṣmāśrayaṃ nirviṣayaṃ nāparaṃ paramārthataḥ | yadvā saviṣayaṃ dhyānaṃ tatsākārasamāśrayam
La meditación que se apoya en lo sutil y está libre de objetos no es, en verdad, otra cosa que la Realidad Suprema misma. Pero si la meditación se realiza con un objeto, entonces depende de una forma, de un soporte concreto y manifiesto.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It distinguishes two valid modes of Shaiva meditation: object-free absorption in the subtle (pointing to the Supreme Reality) and object-based contemplation supported by a manifest form—both guiding the seeker from practice toward realization.
Object-based meditation aligns with saguna supports such as the Shiva Linga, a murti, or a chosen visualization of Shiva; these provide a concrete basis for dhyana that can mature into subtler, object-free contemplation.
It suggests dhyana with a support (e.g., Linga-focused contemplation with mantra like Om Namaḥ Śivāya) for most practitioners, and progressively refining attention toward subtle, object-free meditation as steadiness and purity increase.