Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30
द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)
बोधनी पश्चिमे भागे आप्यायिन्युत्तरे पुनः । उषां प्रभां तथा प्राज्ञां सन्ध्यामपि ततः परम्
bodhanī paścime bhāge āpyāyinyuttare punaḥ | uṣāṃ prabhāṃ tathā prājñāṃ sandhyāmapi tataḥ param
Di penjuru barat ada śakti bernama Bodhanī; dan di penjuru utara kembali ada Āpyāyinī. Sesudah itu ada Uṣā, Prabhā, serta Prājñā; dan melampaui semuanya itu ada pula Sandhyā.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It lists personified spiritual powers (śaktis) aligned with directions—awakening, nourishment, dawn-like clarity, radiance, discriminative wisdom, and the transformative “junction” (sandhyā). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, these indicate progressive inner refinements by which the bound soul (paśu) is prepared to receive Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha) and move beyond bondage (pāśa).
Such directional/functional śaktis are contemplated around Shiva’s sacred presence (often the Linga) as emanations of Saguna Shiva’s order and light. The devotee worships Shiva as the source of awakening and wisdom, while understanding these powers as dependent on Him—not independent deities.
A practical takeaway is sandhyā-upāsanā: meditating at dawn and twilight on Shiva as the inner light (prabhā) that awakens (bodhanī) and nourishes (āpyāyinī) discernment (prājñā), supported by japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady breath-awareness.