Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9
पञ्चाक्षरीविद्यायाḥ कलियुगे मोक्षोपायः | The Pañcākṣarī Vidyā as a Means of Liberation in Kali Yuga
रहस्यमिति मत्वैतद्गोपितं यन्मया पुरा । समंत्रकं मां पतितः पूजयेद्यदि मोहितः
rahasyamiti matvaitadgopitaṃ yanmayā purā | samaṃtrakaṃ māṃ patitaḥ pūjayedyadi mohitaḥ
‘ഇത് രഹസ്യമാകുന്നു’ എന്നു കരുതി ഞാൻ മുമ്പ് ഇതിനെ മറച്ചു വെച്ചിരുന്നു; കാരണം മോഹിതനായ പതിതനും മന്ത്രസഹിതം എന്നെ പൂജിച്ചാൽ അതും ഫലപ്രദമാകും—അതുകൊണ്ടാണ് ഇത് രഹസ്യമായി കാത്തത്।
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva’s grace (anugraha) is so potent that even a deluded or “fallen” person can benefit through mantra-yukta worship; therefore such mantra-knowledge is treated as a guarded secret to prevent misuse.
In Saguna worship (such as Linga-puja), mantra is the living link that makes the rite effective; the verse emphasizes that when worship is performed “with mantra,” Shiva responds by grace regardless of the worshipper’s prior condition.
Mantra-sahita Shiva-puja: worship of Shiva accompanied by proper japa/recitation (classically the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), performed with devotion and restraint, respecting the sanctity of the mantra.