Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice
अपश्वात्माधिकारत्वाद्यो धरमः परमो मतः । साधारणस्ततो ऽन्यस्तु सर्वेषामधिकारतः
apaśvātmādhikāratvādyo dharamaḥ paramo mataḥ | sādhāraṇastato 'nyastu sarveṣāmadhikārataḥ
Le Dharma tenu pour suprême est ainsi nommé parce qu’il concerne le soi qualifié, l’âme disciplinée, non bestiale. Mais il est un autre Dharma, dit « commun », car par droit et convenance il s’applique à tous les êtres.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga narrative; the verse distinguishes adhikāra-bheda: ‘parama dharma’ for the refined (apaśu-ātman) versus ‘sādhāraṇa dharma’ for all—mirroring Siddhānta’s graded upāyas.
Significance: Clarifies eligibility (adhikāra) as essential: universal ethics support all, while higher Śaiva yoga/jñāna is for those prepared—encouraging gradual purification before advanced practice.
FAQs
It distinguishes between a highest, inner discipline meant for the spiritually qualified soul and a general dharma meant for everyone—echoing the Shaiva Siddhanta idea that liberation-oriented practice requires maturity while basic righteousness is universal.
It implies graded practice: all may follow common dharma and devotional worship, while deeper, more transformative Shaiva sadhana—leading toward realization of Shiva as Pati and release of the pashu from pasha—depends on adhikara (spiritual fitness).
Adopt universal dharma (truthfulness, non-injury, purity) as the foundation, and—when qualified—take up focused Shiva-sadhana such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with disciplined conduct and meditation.