Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
यस्त्वासन्नां मृतिं मर्त्यो दृष्टारिष्टं च भूयसा । स योगारम्भनिरतः शिवक्षेत्रं समाश्रयेत्
yastvāsannāṃ mṛtiṃ martyo dṛṣṭāriṣṭaṃ ca bhūyasā | sa yogārambhanirataḥ śivakṣetraṃ samāśrayet
Tout mortel qui sent la mort proche et qui a maintes fois vu des présages funestes doit—désireux d’entreprendre la discipline du yoga—prendre refuge dans le kṣetra sacré de Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The verse recommends taking refuge in a ‘Śiva-kṣetra’ when death is near—invoking the pan-Indic idea that dying in Śiva’s sacred domain, with yoga begun, supports auspicious passage and liberation-oriented remembrance.
Significance: Kṣetra-āśraya (refuge in Śiva’s holy field) is presented as a practical upāya at life’s end, aligning place, practice, and remembrance toward Śiva.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that when mortality becomes undeniable, one should turn from fear and omens toward Śiva—the Pati—and begin inner discipline (yoga) supported by the sanctity of Śiva’s kṣetra, where grace and right orientation are strengthened.
A Śiva-kṣetra typically centers on Saguna worship such as the Śiva-liṅga; approaching the liṅga with surrender and practice helps the devotee steady the mind, purify karma, and orient toward the transcendent (Nirguṇa) reality that the liṅga signifies.
The verse explicitly points to beginning yoga; in a Śiva-kṣetra this is naturally supported by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), dhyāna before the liṅga, and temple-based vows/observances aligned with Śaiva discipline.