Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10
मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta
तं दृष्ट्वा सूतमायांतं मुनयो हृष्टमानसाः । तस्मै साम च पूजां च यथावत्प्रत्यपादयन्
taṃ dṛṣṭvā sūtamāyāṃtaṃ munayo hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | tasmai sāma ca pūjāṃ ca yathāvatpratyapādayan
Voyant Sūta s’avancer, les munis furent comblés de joie au fond du cœur. Ils lui offrirent alors, selon la règle, des paroles d’accueil et l’hommage rituel prescrit.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Satsaṅga and honoring the guru/narrator are presented as dharmic prerequisites for receiving Śiva-kathā; the merit is eligibility (adhikāra) for śravaṇa leading toward Śiva’s grace.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It establishes the dharmic foundation for receiving Shaiva wisdom: the teaching is approached with purity, joy, and reverence to the transmitter of sacred knowledge, which supports receptivity and inner transformation toward Shiva-realization.
The verse models ‘vidhi’—proper honoring before sacred engagement. In Shaiva practice, the same principle applies to Linga worship: one begins with respectful invocation, welcoming, and offering, treating the sacred presence (and the guru/ācārya who reveals it) with due pūjā.
Begin any Shiva Purana recitation or japa with sāma (gentle, auspicious invocation) and yathāvat pūjā—simple offerings, respectful seating, and a devotional intention—then proceed to listening (śravaṇa) or chanting (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya).