Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23
लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera
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ते चाष्टमूर्तयः कल्प्याः पूर्वादिपरितः स्थिताः । चत्वारश्चाथ वा दिक्षु स्वध्येतारस्सजापकाः
te cāṣṭamūrtayaḥ kalpyāḥ pūrvādiparitaḥ sthitāḥ | catvāraścātha vā dikṣu svadhyetārassajāpakāḥ
Ces huit formes doivent être dûment contemplées, établies tout autour, en commençant par l’Est. Et dans les directions se tiennent aussi quatre assistants—récitateurs du Veda et pratiquants du japa—demeurant sans cesse engagés dans la répétition sacrée.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It teaches a contemplative ritual-vision: Śiva is approached through His Aṣṭamūrti, pervading the cosmos in ordered directions, while svādhyāya and japa purify the bound soul (paśu) and orient it toward Pati (Śiva).
The verse supports saguna-upāsanā by prescribing structured contemplation—placing Śiva’s forms around (as a mandalic arrangement). Such visualization naturally complements Liṅga worship, where the Liṅga is the central focus and the surrounding directions are honored through mantra and reverent attendance.
Directional contemplation of Śiva’s eight forms along with disciplined japa (e.g., Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and svādhyāya (sacred recitation) as steady daily practice.