Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites
Morning Purity & Bath Procedure
कृष्ण उवाच । भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि शिवाश्रमनिषेविणाम् । शिवशास्त्रोदितं कर्म नित्यनैमित्तिकं तथा
kṛṣṇa uvāca | bhagavañchrotumicchāmi śivāśramaniṣeviṇām | śivaśāstroditaṃ karma nityanaimittikaṃ tathā
कृष्ण म्हणाला—हे भगवन्! शिवाश्रमाचे सेवन करणाऱ्यांविषयी मला ऐकायचे आहे; शिवशास्त्रात सांगितलेली नित्यकर्मे व नैमित्तिक विधीकर्मे मला कथन करा।
Krishna
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It frames Śiva-bhakti as a disciplined path: seekers should learn the Śaiva duties (karmas) that purify the soul and make it fit for Śiva’s grace, distinguishing steady daily practice from occasion-based rites.
By asking for the Śiva-śāstra–taught duties, Kṛṣṇa points toward regulated Saguna worship—such as Śiva-pūjā to the Liṅga—performed as nitya observance, with special naimittika rites on sacred days.
The verse signals two layers of practice: daily Śiva-oriented discipline (nitya)—often including mantra-japa like the Pañcākṣarī—and occasional observances (naimittika) such as vrata and festival worship, typically supported by Śaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where prescribed.