Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20
योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)
अक्षपादः कणादश्च उलूको वत्स एव च । कुलिकश्चैव गर्गश्च मित्रको रुष्य एव च
akṣapādaḥ kaṇādaśca ulūko vatsa eva ca | kulikaścaiva gargaśca mitrako ruṣya eva ca
അക്ഷപാദൻ, കണാദൻ, ഉലൂകൻ, വത്സൻ; കൂടാതെ കുലികൻ, ഗർഗൻ, മിത്രകൻ, ഋഷ്യൻ—ഇവരും ഈ പവിത്ര വൃത്താന്തത്തിൽ എണ്ണപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse underscores the Shaiva principle of paramparā (authentic transmission): sacred knowledge of Pati (Shiva), paśu, and pāśa is preserved and conveyed through realized seers, making the teaching trustworthy and spiritually efficacious.
By naming authoritative teachers, the text implicitly affirms that Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion are not mere sentiment but a disciplined tradition upheld by rishis who transmit correct mantra, ritual, and contemplative understanding.
A practical takeaway is guru-smaraṇa and rishi-vandana—begin study or worship by remembering the lineage, then perform japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steadiness and humility.