Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 68
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
मद्भक्तजनवात्सल्यं पूजायां चानुमोदनम् । स्वयमभ्यर्चनं चैव मदर्थे चांगचेष्टितम् । मत्कथाश्रवणे भक्तिः स्वरनेत्रांगविक्रियाः । ममानुस्मरणं नित्यं यश्च मामुपजीवति
madbhaktajanavātsalyaṃ pūjāyāṃ cānumodanam | svayamabhyarcanaṃ caiva madarthe cāṃgaceṣṭitam | matkathāśravaṇe bhaktiḥ svaranetrāṃgavikriyāḥ | mamānusmaraṇaṃ nityaṃ yaśca māmupajīvati
माझ्या भक्तजनांवर वात्सल्य; पूजेत आनंदाने अनुमोदन; स्वतः माझी अर्चना करणे; आणि माझ्यासाठी देहकर्म करणे; माझ्या कथांचे श्रवण करताना भक्ति; भक्तिभावाने स्वर, नेत्र व अंगांत विकार; माझे नित्य स्मरण; आणि जो माझ्यावर अवलंबून जीवन जगतो—ही माझ्या भक्तीची लक्षणे आहेत.
Lord Shiva (teaching the characteristics of His devotee in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse, narrated within Suta’s account)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Gives practical bhakti-lakṣaṇas that pilgrims can cultivate: service to devotees, joy in pūjā, kathā-śravaṇa, and nitya-smaraṇa—seen as signs of Śiva’s grace working in the soul.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It defines Shiva-bhakti as both inner absorption (constant remembrance and dependence on Shiva as Pati) and outer conduct (serving Shiva’s devotees, worship, and dedicating bodily actions to Him), showing devotion as a transformative state of heart and life.
The verse supports Saguna upāsanā through concrete practices—personal worship (abhyarcana), approval and encouragement of pūjā, and embodied service—typical of Linga-worship where devotion expresses itself through ritual, reverence, and daily dedication to Shiva.
Daily pūjā and attentive listening to Shiva-kathā with bhakti, combined with nitya-anusmaraṇa (constant remembrance, such as japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and practical service to Shiva’s devotees.