Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge
Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati
पुरोपमन्युमासीनं विष्णुःकृष्णवपुर्धरः । प्रणिपत्य यथान्यायमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
puropamanyumāsīnaṃ viṣṇuḥkṛṣṇavapurdharaḥ | praṇipatya yathānyāyamidaṃ vacanamabravīt
Kemudian Viṣṇu, yang mengenakan wujud berwarna gelap, mendekati Upamanyu yang sedang duduk di hadapannya; setelah bersujud menurut tata cara, baginda mengucapkan kata-kata ini.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a shrine account; the verse dramatizes the epistemic hierarchy: Viṣṇu approaches a Śaiva sage to learn Pāśupata doctrine, implying Śiva’s anugraha mediated through guru.
Significance: Models proper approach to Śaiva teaching—praṇipāta and nyāya (etiquette) before inquiry—considered meritorious for receiving instruction.
FAQs
It highlights dharmic humility: even a great deity approaches a realized sage with reverence. In Shaiva understanding, true spiritual authority rests in devotion and knowledge of Pati (Śiva), so respectful conduct becomes part of the path to grace.
The verse sets the tone of proper approach (yathā-nyāyam) before sacred presence—mirroring how one approaches Śiva in saguna worship, including the Liṅga: with pranāma, purity of intent, and disciplined etiquette.
The implied practice is praṇāma with right procedure—begin worship by bowing, centering the mind, and offering respectful speech; this aligns with Shaiva pūjā disciplines often accompanied by mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) even when not explicitly stated.