Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 72
समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout
Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha
प्रतिमा वापि देवस्य गूढदेहमथापि वा । पूजाहोमजपध्यानसाधनानि च संभवे
pratimā vāpi devasya gūḍhadehamathāpi vā | pūjāhomajapadhyānasādhanāni ca saṃbhave
Qu’il s’agisse d’une pratimā (icône sacrée) du Seigneur, ou même de Sa présence subtile au corps caché, ô Śambhu : le culte, le homa (offrande au feu), le japa (répétition du mantra) et la méditation sont tous des moyens légitimes d’accomplissement spirituel.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It affirms that Shiva can be approached both as a worshipful form (saguṇa) and as a subtle, inner presence (beyond form), and that classical disciplines—pūjā, homa, japa, and dhyāna—are legitimate paths to Shiva’s grace and realization.
The “pratimā” points to form-based worship such as the Śiva-liṅga or a murti, while “gūḍha-deha” supports inward contemplation of Shiva as the indwelling Lord; the verse harmonizes external ritual with internal realization.
It recommends a complete Shaiva sādhanā: perform pūjā and homa as outer worship, and support them with japa (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna to internalize Shiva-consciousness.