Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44
सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship
विन्ध्ये च वसतिं तस्याः पूजामासवपूर्वकैः । मांसैर्मत्स्यैरपूपैश्च निर्वर्त्यासौ समादिशत्
vindhye ca vasatiṃ tasyāḥ pūjāmāsavapūrvakaiḥ | māṃsairmatsyairapūpaiśca nirvartyāsau samādiśat
Et dans la région du Vindhya, il lui aménagea une demeure ; puis, après l’avoir honorée par un culte dont les offrandes commençaient par une boisson fermentée, avec viande, poisson et gâteaux rituels, il donna ensuite son ordre afin que l’on agît ainsi.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: Vindhya-nivāsa motif: Devī is established in the Vindhya region as a protective, boundary-guardian power; local cults often identify her with Vindhyavāsinī.
Significance: Seeking protection, victory over obstacles, and appeasement of fierce Devī forms; establishment (pratiṣṭhā) sanctifies the land.
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse highlights that worship can be performed according to a specific prescribed mode and locale; in Shaiva understanding, the inner intention (bhakti) and the ordained procedure (vidhi) together shape the spiritual efficacy of an act.
Although the Linga is not named here, the verse reflects Saguna-oriented ritual worship—formal offerings and completion of a rite—typical of Purana narratives where devotion is expressed through concrete, visible acts.
It suggests vidhi-based pūjā (formal worship) with specific offerings; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may adopt a sattvic Shiva-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while keeping discipline and purity appropriate to one’s tradition.