Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39
शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice
निदानज्ञो यथा वैद्यो रोगस्य विनिवर्तकः । उपायैर्भेषजैस्तद्वल्लयभोगाधिकारतः
nidānajño yathā vaidyo rogasya vinivartakaḥ | upāyairbheṣajaistadvallayabhogādhikārataḥ
De même qu’un médecin, connaissant les causes d’une maladie, l’écarte par des méthodes et des remèdes justes, de même—selon l’aptitude de chacun à la résorption (laya) et à la jouissance dévotionnelle (bhoga)—les liens sont ôtés par les moyens spirituels convenables.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Interprets Śiva as the supreme guru-physician who prescribes upāyas suited to adhikāra; supports pilgrimage as a ‘treatment’ combining darśana, vrata, and sādhana.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that bondage is like a disease: when its cause is correctly known, Shiva’s path is applied as a precise remedy—chosen according to the seeker’s spiritual fitness—so that impurity and limitation are removed.
In the Shiva Purana, Saguna worship (such as Linga-puja) functions as an accessible, effective ‘medicine’ for most seekers, purifying the mind and preparing it for deeper absorption (laya) and ultimately realization of Shiva as Pati.
The verse implies adopting the right upaya: for many, steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) with Linga worship, Tripundra (bhasma), and Rudraksha—practiced consistently according to one’s capacity.