Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 80
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
दंडवत्प्रणतिं कृत्वा देवदेवस्य पादयोः । अतिष्ठतां वीतभयावानंदास्तिमितौ तदा
daṃḍavatpraṇatiṃ kṛtvā devadevasya pādayoḥ | atiṣṭhatāṃ vītabhayāvānaṃdāstimitau tadā
देवाधिदेव भगवान शिवांच्या चरणी दंडवत् प्रणाम करून, ते दोघे तेव्हा तेथे निर्भय उभे राहिले—मन आनंदात स्थिर व तल्लीन झाले।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that surrender at Śiva’s feet (bhakti with humility) dissolves fear (bhaya) and steadies the mind in bliss—an immediate sign of Śiva’s grace and the soul’s movement toward liberation.
Daṇḍavat praṇāma is a classic act of Saguna Śiva worship—approaching the Lord as the compassionate, accessible Deva. In Linga-worship too, bowing at the “feet” signifies taking refuge in Śiva as Pati, the liberating Lord.
Performing prostration with reverence before Śiva (or the Śiva-liṅga), followed by standing or sitting in quiet stillness—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—is implied as a simple bhakti-yoga leading to calm and fearlessness.