Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
ईश्वर उवाच । आज्ञाहीनं क्रियाहीनं श्रद्धाहीनं वरानने । आज्ञार्थं दक्षिणाहीनं सदा जप्तं च निष्फलम् । आज्ञासिद्धं क्रियासिद्धं श्रद्धासिद्धं ममात्मकम् । एवं चेद्दक्षिणायुक्तं मंत्रसिद्धिर्महत्फलम्
īśvara uvāca | ājñāhīnaṃ kriyāhīnaṃ śraddhāhīnaṃ varānane | ājñārthaṃ dakṣiṇāhīnaṃ sadā japtaṃ ca niṣphalam | ājñāsiddhaṃ kriyāsiddhaṃ śraddhāsiddhaṃ mamātmakam | evaṃ ceddakṣiṇāyuktaṃ maṃtrasiddhirmahatphalam
Īśvara dit : «Ô toi au visage gracieux, le japa accompli sans l’autorisation du guru, sans les observances prescrites et sans foi—fût-il répété sans cesse—demeure sans fruit ; de même, un rite entrepris pour accomplir l’ordre du maître mais dépourvu de dakṣiṇā (offrande) est vain. Mais lorsque l’autorisation est accomplie, l’observance accomplie et la foi accomplie, le mantra devient de Ma propre nature. Et s’il est ainsi accompagné de dakṣiṇā, la perfection du mantra produit un grand fruit.»
Lord Shiva (Īśvara)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse teaches that mantra-japa bears real spiritual fruit only when grounded in guru-authorization (ājñā), right observance (kriyā), and living faith (śraddhā). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such japa becomes a means for Shiva’s grace to manifest, making the mantra ‘of Shiva’s own nature’ for the practitioner.
Linga worship and Saguna Shiva upāsanā are effective when performed as prescribed—received through proper instruction and carried out with devotion and discipline. The verse emphasizes that external worship and internal japa must align with authorized Shaiva practice, so the worship becomes a conduit for Shiva’s presence and grace.
Practice mantra-japa only after receiving proper guidance/permission (dīkṣā or ājñā), maintain prescribed disciplines (purity, timing, nyāsa/ācāra as taught), cultivate faith, and honor the tradition with appropriate dakṣiṇā or offering to the guru/ritual context—then mantra-siddhi yields ‘great fruit.’