Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25
शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः
Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation
अर्थमहत्तमं देवाः पप्रच्छुरिममादरात् । देवा ऊचुः । भगवन्केन मार्गेण पूजनीयो ऽसि भूतले
arthamahattamaṃ devāḥ papracchurimamādarāt | devā ūcuḥ | bhagavankena mārgeṇa pūjanīyo 'si bhūtale
Désireux de saisir le sens le plus élevé, les Devas posèrent cette question avec respect. Les Devas dirent : «Ô Seigneur Bienheureux, par quelle voie et selon quelle méthode doit-on t’adorer sur la terre ?»
The Devas
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It frames Shiva-worship as a quest for the “highest meaning,” implying that true puja is not merely external ritual but a revealed path leading the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) and liberation.
By asking “by what method” Shiva is to be worshipped on earth, the Devas open the teaching that Shiva becomes accessible through prescribed upāsanā—commonly centered on Saguna forms such as the Śiva-liṅga—through which devotion and right understanding mature toward the Supreme.
The verse itself is an inquiry rather than an instruction, but it directly points to learning an authorized method of Shiva-puja—typically involving mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī), and disciplined worship as taught in the ensuing context.