Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
श्रद्दधानः प्रसन्नात्मा ध्याता सद्भिरुदाहृतः । ध्यै चिंतायां स्मृतो धातुः शिवचिंता मुहुर्मुहुः
śraddadhānaḥ prasannātmā dhyātā sadbhirudāhṛtaḥ | dhyai ciṃtāyāṃ smṛto dhātuḥ śivaciṃtā muhurmuhuḥ
ശ്രദ്ധയുള്ളവനും പ്രസന്നാന്തഃകരണനുമായവനെ സദ്ജനങ്ങൾ ‘ധ്യാതാവ്’ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു. ‘ധ്യൈ’ ധാതു ‘ചിന്ത’ അർത്ഥത്തിൽ സ്മൃതം; അതിനാൽ ശിവനെ മുറുമുറെ, നിരന്തരം ചിന്തിക്കുന്നതുതന്നെ ധ്യാനം.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Defines ‘true meditator’ as śraddhā + prasāda; frames dhyāna as repeated Śiva-cintā—an inner pilgrimage of remembrance (smaraṇa) culminating in purification and grace.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines dhyāna not as mere mental effort but as steady, faith-filled, serene contemplation of Pati (Śiva), which purifies the mind and turns it away from pāśa (bondage) toward liberation.
For Saguna worship, the Liṅga serves as a stable support for śiva-ciṃtā; repeatedly returning the mind to Śiva—through form, mantra, and devotion—is presented as the essence of meditation.
Practice continuous śiva-ciṃtā through japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna with a calm, faithful mind, repeatedly bringing attention back to Śiva.