Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34
समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout
Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha
ततस्सुवर्णसंमिश्रं दत्त्वा पुष्पांजलिं प्रभोः । प्राङ्मुखश्चोदङ्मुखो वा प्रणमेद्दंडवत्क्षितो
tatassuvarṇasaṃmiśraṃ dattvā puṣpāṃjaliṃ prabhoḥ | prāṅmukhaścodaṅmukho vā praṇameddaṃḍavatkṣito
Kemudian, setelah mempersembahkan kepada Tuhan segenggam bunga yang bercampur emas, hendaklah ia menghadap ke timur atau ke utara dan bersujud penuh (daṇḍavat) di atas tanah.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Establishes humility (dāsya) and receptivity before Śiva; prostration and offering are framed as preparatory acts that make the paśu fit for the descent of grace (anugraha) in subsequent rites.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that true Shaiva worship culminates in surrender: after offering (puṣpāñjali), the devotee places the ego on the ground through daṇḍavat praṇāma, aligning body and mind to the Lord (Pati) for grace and liberation.
The verse describes a concrete act of saguna-upāsanā—offering flowers to the Lord’s worship-form (commonly the Liṅga) and concluding with full prostration, expressing devotion and reverence to Shiva as the accessible, compassionate Lord.
Offer a puṣpāñjali (flowers, optionally with a precious offering) and perform daṇḍavat praṇāma facing east or north; inwardly, maintain bhakti and remembrance of Shiva—ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”