Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21
पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra
शिवपूजाविधिं कुर्याद्यदीच्छेच्छिवमात्मनः । त्वरितं जीवितं याति त्वरितं याति यौवनम्
śivapūjāvidhiṃ kuryādyadīcchecchivamātmanaḥ | tvaritaṃ jīvitaṃ yāti tvaritaṃ yāti yauvanam
Si l’on désire Śiva pour son propre Soi — c’est-à-dire la grâce du Seigneur, le Pati — qu’on accomplisse selon la règle le rite du culte de Śiva. Car la vie s’en va vite, et la jeunesse s’évanouit tout aussi vite.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; it is a didactic reminder of impermanence (anityatā) to motivate proper Śiva-pūjā as an upāya toward Śiva-realization.
Significance: Frames worship as time-sensitive sādhana; encourages immediate engagement in caryā/kriyā before bodily decline, aligning with pilgrimage ethos of ‘now, not later’.
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It teaches vairagya (dispassion) and urgency in sadhana: since life and youth are fleeting, one should promptly take refuge in Shiva through disciplined worship to attain His grace and liberation.
By urging “śiva-pūjā-vidhi,” it supports Saguna upasana—worship of Shiva with form and rite (often through the Shiva-Linga)—as a direct means to receive Pati’s anugraha (grace) and progress toward realization.
Perform Shiva-puja according to vidhi—regular worship with mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara), purity and devotion; the verse’s main takeaway is to begin immediately, without postponement.