Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
व्याख्यानं ब्रह्मचर्यं च श्रवणं च तपः क्षमा । शौचं शिखोपवीतं च उष्णीषं चोत्तरीयकम्
vyākhyānaṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca śravaṇaṃ ca tapaḥ kṣamā | śaucaṃ śikhopavītaṃ ca uṣṇīṣaṃ cottarīyakam
ശാസ്ത്രവ്യാഖ്യാനം, ബ്രഹ്മചര്യം, ഭക്തിയോടെ ശ്രവണം, തപസ്സ്യും ക്ഷമയും; ശൗചം, ശിഖയും യജ്ഞോപവീതവും, ഉഷ്ണീഷവും ഉത്തരീയവും—ഇവ ശൈവസാധകന്റെ നിശ്ചിത ലക്ഷണങ്ങളും ആചാരങ്ങളും ആകുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga passage; it codifies marks (liṅga) of disciplined life—brahmacarya, śauca, and traditional insignia—used to maintain boundaries of conduct and identity for practice.
Significance: Highlights that sustained sādhana requires both inner discipline (tapas, kṣamā, śravaṇa) and outer supports (śikhā, upavīta, garments) that reinforce vows and social-religious commitments.
FAQs
It lists the inner virtues and outer disciplines that steady the aspirant—purity, restraint, listening to sacred teaching, austerity, and forgiveness—so the soul (paśu) becomes fit to receive Shiva’s grace (pati) and loosen bondage (pāśa).
Linga-worship is upheld by right conduct: śravaṇa (hearing Śiva-tattva), tapas, and śauca purify intention, while traditional signs like śikhā, upavīta, and uttarīya support a disciplined life oriented to Saguna Shiva’s ritual worship.
Regular śravaṇa (listening to Shaiva scripture/teachings), living brahmacarya and tapas with kṣamā, and maintaining śauca as daily preparation for Shiva-pūjā and japa (including the Panchakshara, if initiated).