Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
कर्णिकाकेशरोपेतमासनं परिकल्पयेत् । विभवे तदभावे तु रक्तं सितमथापि वा
karṇikākeśaropetamāsanaṃ parikalpayet | vibhave tadabhāve tu raktaṃ sitamathāpi vā
Qu’on prépare un siège muni d’un cœur central et de filaments tout autour, à l’image du lotus. Si l’on en a les moyens, qu’on utilise un tel siège; à défaut, qu’on prenne un siège rouge, ou même blanc.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that worship begins with inner reverence expressed outwardly through order, purity, and appropriateness of the worship-seat; when ideal resources are absent, sincere devotion with simple substitutes remains acceptable.
In Saguna worship such as Linga-puja, the āsana is part of proper upacāra (ritual hospitality). The verse emphasizes correct preparation while affirming that the essence is devotion to Shiva rather than luxury.
Arrange an appropriate āsana—ideally lotus-like; otherwise use a clean red or white seat—then proceed with Shiva worship (often alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’).