Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31
समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout
Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha
स्वयं प्राग्वदनस्तिष्ठन्नूर्ध्वकायं कृतांजलिम् । संप्रोक्ष्य प्रोक्षणौतोयैर्मूर्धन्यस्त्रेण मुद्रया
svayaṃ prāgvadanastiṣṭhannūrdhvakāyaṃ kṛtāṃjalim | saṃprokṣya prokṣaṇautoyairmūrdhanyastreṇa mudrayā
സ്വയം കിഴക്കോട്ടു മുഖം തിരിച്ച് നിവർന്ന് നിന്നു കൃതാഞ്ജലിയായി; തുടർന്ന് പ്രോക്ഷണജലത്തോടെ സ്വയം തളിച്ച് ശുദ്ധീകരിച്ച്, മൂർധന്യ അസ്ത്രമന്ത്രത്തിന്റെ മുദ്രയാൽ രക്ഷാസംസ്കാരം നടത്തണം।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Mantra: (mūrdhanya-astra mantra referenced, text not quoted in the verse)
FAQs
It teaches that Shaiva worship begins with inner and outer purification—upright posture, reverent añjali, and consecration through mantra—so the devotee becomes a fit vessel for Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and the removal of bonds (pāśa).
Before approaching the Śiva-liṅga (Saguna worship), the practitioner performs protective and purifying preliminaries—directional orientation, prokṣaṇa water, and an astra-mantra mudrā—so the act of offering becomes ritually pure and spiritually focused on Shiva as Pati.
Stand facing east, keep the body steady and upright, join the palms in añjali, sprinkle consecrated water for purification, and apply a protective ‘astra’ mantra with its prescribed mudrā as a safeguard and preparation for further japa/puja.