Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
कालमान-निर्णयः
Determination of the Measures of Time
मासैस्तैरयनं षड्भिर्वर्षं द्वे चायनं मतम् । लौकिकेनैव मानेन अब्दो यो मानुषः स्मृतः
māsaistairayanaṃ ṣaḍbhirvarṣaṃ dve cāyanaṃ matam | laukikenaiva mānena abdo yo mānuṣaḥ smṛtaḥ
Dengan bulan-bulan itu, satu ayana (setengah tahun) terbina daripada enam bulan; dan dengan dua ayana difahami menjadi setahun. Menurut ukuran duniawi yang lazim, tahun itu dikenang sebagai tahun manusia.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It frames human time as a conventional measure, preparing the mind to see time as relative and subordinate to the highest Reality (Pati, Shiva), who transcends temporal divisions while still governing them as Lord of cosmic order.
Linga-worship is performed within measured time—months, ayanas, and years—yet it points beyond time to Shiva as the timeless ground. Thus, calendrical discipline supports Saguna devotion while revealing the Nirguna truth of Shiva’s transcendence.
Keep vrata and japa in alignment with sacred calendrical cycles (ayana, month, year)—steady Panchakshara japa and regular puja—so discipline in time becomes a support for inward yoga and devotion to Shiva.