Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10
योगप्रकारनिर्णयः
Classification and Definition of Yoga
विलीनावयवं विश्वं रूपं संभाव्यते यतः । अभावयोगः संप्रोक्तो ऽनाभासाद्वस्तुनः सतः
vilīnāvayavaṃ viśvaṃ rūpaṃ saṃbhāvyate yataḥ | abhāvayogaḥ saṃprokto 'nābhāsādvastunaḥ sataḥ
जिससे विश्व के अवयव लीन होकर एक अविभक्त रूप में ही कल्पित होते हैं, इसलिए सत् वस्तु की ‘अनाभास’ अवस्था को ‘अभावयोग’ कहा गया है। शैव-दृष्टि में नाम-रूप शान्त हों तो पति शिव नित्य-सत् रूप से शेष रहते हैं।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: laya/pralaya imagery (conceptual dissolution of avayavas into an undifferentiated whole)
FAQs
It points to a contemplative yoga where the seeker recognizes the withdrawal of all differentiated forms and abides in the ever-existent Reality—Śiva as Pati—beyond appearance and disappearance.
The Linga symbolizes the one Reality in which the universe’s forms dissolve; Saguna worship supports the mind until it can intuit the non-manifest (anābhāsa) ground indicated here.
Meditatively withdraw attention from names and forms (pratyāhāra-like inner absorption) while stabilizing devotion through japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by bhasma and rudrākṣa if one follows Shaiva observances.