Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमः
Occasional Rites and Their Procedure
उपमन्युरुवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवाश्रमनिषेविणाम् । शिवशास्त्रोक्तमार्गेण नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमम्
upamanyuruvāca | ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi śivāśramaniṣeviṇām | śivaśāstroktamārgeṇa naimittikavidhikramam
ഉപമന്യു പറഞ്ഞു—ഇനി മുതൽ ശിവാശ്രമം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നവർക്കായി, ശിവശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന മാർഗ്ഗപ്രകാരം നൈമിത്തികവിധികളുടെ ക്രമം ഞാൻ വിശദീകരിക്കും।
Sage Upamanyu
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It marks a transition into practical Shaiva observance: Upamanyu commits to teach the śāstra-grounded, orderly way of performing occasion-based rites, emphasizing disciplined living oriented to Pati (Śiva).
By invoking the “Śiva-śāstra path,” the verse frames Saguna Śiva worship—often centered on the Liṅga—as something to be performed according to revealed injunctions and a defined sequence, not merely personal preference.
The verse signals instruction in naimittika vidhis—special-occasion worship and observances—typically including regulated pūjā, mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī), and purity/discipline consistent with Śiva-āśrama conduct.