Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 94
पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्
Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva
शिवप्रियतमा नित्यं शिवलक्षणलक्षिताः । सौम्याधारास्तथा मिश्राश्चांतरालद्वयात्मिकाः
śivapriyatamā nityaṃ śivalakṣaṇalakṣitāḥ | saumyādhārāstathā miśrāścāṃtarāladvayātmikāḥ
അവർ നിത്യവും ശിവനു അതിപ്രിയർ, ശിവലക്ഷണങ്ങളാൽ ലക്ഷിതർ. ചിലർ സൗമ്യാധാരമുള്ളവർ; ചിലർ മിശ്രസ്വഭാവമുള്ളവർ—ദ്വിവിധ ഇടനിലാവസ്ഥയുള്ളവർ.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse praises those who bear “Śiva’s marks” in conduct and inner disposition—becoming dear to Śiva through sādhana that reflects His qualities (purity, auspiciousness, steadiness). It also hints that practitioners may pass through distinct inner phases, including intermediate states, on the way to grace (anugraha) and liberation.
In Saguna worship, the devotee approaches Śiva through recognizable “lakṣaṇas”—ritual purity, devotion, mantra-japa, and reverence for the Liṅga as the auspicious support (ādhāra). The verse’s language of “supports” and “marks” aligns with Liṅga-upāsanā where the outer form trains the inner qualities that mirror Śiva.
Adopt a sāttvika (saumya) discipline—daily pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Liṅga-pūjā with calm mind, and steady ethical restraint; combine it with supportive observances (e.g., bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa) as a “mixed” practice that stabilizes the aspirant through transitional inner phases.