Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 52
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
मदर्चाकर्म विज्ञेयं बाह्ये यागादिनोच्यते । मदर्थे देहसंशोषस्तपः कृच्छ्रादि नो मतम् । जपः पञ्चाक्षराभ्यासः प्रणवाभ्यास एव च । रुद्राध्यायादिकाभ्यासो न वेदाध्ययनादिकम्
madarcākarma vijñeyaṃ bāhye yāgādinocyate | madarthe dehasaṃśoṣastapaḥ kṛcchrādi no matam | japaḥ pañcākṣarābhyāsaḥ praṇavābhyāsa eva ca | rudrādhyāyādikābhyāso na vedādhyayanādikam
我が礼拝は、外相においては祭祀（ヤジュニャ）などの儀礼によって行うべきであると知れ。だが、我がためと称して身をやせ衰えさせるだけの苦行——苛烈な行や厳しい自虐——は、我は認めない。真のジャパとは、五音の真言「ナマハ・シヴァーヤ」を絶えず修し、またプラナヴァ（オーム）を繰り返し念ずることである。ルドラ・アディヤーヤ等の誦読を修めよ——ただヴェーダの学習などにのみ留まるな。
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: (pañcākṣara) namaḥ śivāya; (praṇava) oṃ; (rudrādhyāya) śrīrudram (rudrādhyāya)
Type: panchakshara
FAQs
It prioritizes disciplined devotion—arcana and mantra-japa—over self-torturing austerities, teaching that Shiva is pleased by steady worship, Praṇava contemplation, and the Panchākṣarī rather than by mere bodily hardship or dry learning.
By affirming “mad-arcā” (My worship) as the approved path, it supports Saguna worship such as Linga-arcana and external rites, while directing the devotee to internalize that worship through japa of Oṁ and Namaḥ Śivāya.
Regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Namaḥ Śivāya) and Praṇava (Oṁ), along with recitation/practice of the Rudrādhyāya (Rudra hymns), as the core daily discipline.