Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
स तैर्व्यस्तैस्समस्तैर्वा लिंगैरव्यभिचारिभिः । मंदमध्योत्तमैर्भावैर्विज्ञेयास्ते नरोत्तमाः
sa tairvyastaissamastairvā liṃgairavyabhicāribhiḥ | maṃdamadhyottamairbhāvairvijñeyāste narottamāḥ
Les meilleurs des hommes se reconnaissent à ces signes infaillibles — qu’ils apparaissent séparément ou tous ensemble — se manifestant en dispositions de trois degrés : doux, moyen et excellent.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches discernment: true spiritual nobility is known by steady, unfailing inner signs (liṅgas)—not merely by external show—graded as lesser, middling, and supreme dispositions that mature toward Shiva-realization.
Here “liṅga” primarily means ‘mark’ or ‘characteristic.’ In Shaiva practice, outer Linga-worship bears fruit when supported by these inner, unwavering qualities—devotion, purity, and steadiness—through which Saguna worship leads toward the highest truth of Shiva.
Cultivate unwavering bhāva through daily Shiva-puja with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna; let external observances (like bhasma/rudraksha) be supported by consistent inner discipline rather than occasional enthusiasm.