Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20
पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra
शौर्यं वै जगति ख्यातिश्शिवमर्चयतो भवेत् । तस्मात्सर्वं परित्यज्य शिवैकाहितमानसः
śauryaṃ vai jagati khyātiśśivamarcayato bhavet | tasmātsarvaṃ parityajya śivaikāhitamānasaḥ
En vérité, la vaillance et la renommée dans le monde adviennent à celui qui vénère Śiva. C’est pourquoi, renonçant à tout le reste, qu’il fixe son esprit sur Śiva seul.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: General injunction: Śiva-arcana yields both laukika (worldly) and pāramārthika (spiritual) fruits; not tied to a specific jyotirliṅga narrative.
Significance: Encourages ekāgratā (one-pointedness) toward Śiva; such niṣṭhā is treated in Siddhānta as a key upāya preparing the soul for descent of grace.
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse teaches that Śiva-bhakti yields both worldly excellence (valor and renown) and, more importantly, inner steadiness—by urging the devotee to renounce distractions and anchor the mind in Śiva alone, aligning with the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal of turning from pāśa (bondage) toward Pati (the Lord).
“Worship of Śiva” here naturally includes saguna upāsanā such as Śiva-arcana to the Liṅga—offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra—because the Liṅga is the primary icon through which devotees cultivate single-pointed devotion, eventually maturing toward deeper realization of Śiva’s transcendence.
The practical takeaway is ekāgratā (one-pointedness): perform Śiva-arcana with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and mentally relinquish competing aims during worship—keeping the mind placed only in Śiva.