Shloka 57
दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas
नमस्कारं ततो ध्यानं जपः प्रोक्तो गुरोर्मनोः । अन्यथा पंचवर्णेन तोषयेत्तेन शंकरम्
namaskāraṃ tato dhyānaṃ japaḥ prokto gurormanoḥ | anyathā paṃcavarṇena toṣayettena śaṃkaram
Mula-mula hendaklah dipersembahkan salam sembah yang penuh hormat; kemudian bermeditasi; lalu diwajibkan japa, iaitu ulangan mantra yang diajarkan oleh guru. Jika tidak demikian, hendaklah menyenangkan Śaṅkara dengan mantra lima suku kata (Pañcākṣarī) itu.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Emphasizes guru-upadeśa and mantra-japa as the primary sādhanā leading to Śiva’s anugraha; where guru-mantra is unavailable, Pañcākṣarī serves as universally accessible upāya.
Mantra: नमः शिवाय (Namaḥ Śivāya)
Type: panchakshara
Role: teaching
FAQs
It sets a Shaiva sādhanā order—humble surrender (namaskāra), inner steadiness (dhyāna), and mantra-japa—showing that devotion and disciplined practice together lead the soul toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.
The verse supports Saguna Shiva worship by prescribing outward reverence and inward meditation culminating in mantra-japa, which is commonly performed before the Shiva Linga to invoke Śaṅkara’s presence and favor.
Perform namaskāra, settle into dhyāna, and do japa—ideally of the guru-given mantra; if one lacks such initiation, the Pañcākṣarī (commonly ‘Namaḥ Śivāya’) is recommended to please Shiva.