प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
लब्धानुज्ञस्तु गुरुणा द्वादशाहं पयोव्रती । शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्थ्यां वा दशम्यां वा विधानतः
labdhānujñastu guruṇā dvādaśāhaṃ payovratī | śuklapakṣe caturthyāṃ vā daśamyāṃ vā vidhānataḥ
ഗുരുവിന്റെ അനുവാദം ലഭിച്ചവൻ പന്ത്രണ്ടുദിവസം പയോവ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. ശുക്ലപക്ഷത്തിൽ വിധിപ്രകാരം ചതുര്ഥി അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ദശമി ദിനത്തിൽ ചെയ്യണം.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
It emphasizes that Shaiva practice is not merely personal preference but a disciplined sādhana done under the guru’s sanction, using regulated vows (vrata) to purify the devotee for Shiva-realization.
A payovrata is a preparatory observance that refines body and mind, making the devotee fit for ritual approach to Saguna Shiva—especially Linga worship—where purity, timing, and correct procedure are central.
A twelve-day payovrata (subsisting on milk) begun in the bright fortnight, specifically aligned to Chaturthi or Dashami, undertaken with the guru’s permission and adherence to prescribed rules.