Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14
पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra
स चिरं संसरत्यस्मिन्संसारे दुःखसागरे । दुर्ल्लभं प्राप्य मानुष्यं मूढो नार्चयते शिवम्
sa ciraṃ saṃsaratyasminsaṃsāre duḥkhasāgare | durllabhaṃ prāpya mānuṣyaṃ mūḍho nārcayate śivam
Dia mengembara lama dalam saṃsāra, lautan duka. Walau telah memperoleh kelahiran manusia yang amat sukar didapat, orang yang tersesat itu tetap tidak menyembah Dewa Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Frames human birth as a rare opportunity to turn from saṃsāra toward Śiva; implicitly urges pilgrimage/arcana as a means to cross the duḥkha-sāgara.
FAQs
The verse warns that saṃsāra is inherently duḥkha (bondage and sorrow), and that human birth—rare and spiritually potent—should be used to turn toward Pati (Śiva) through worship; neglecting Śiva keeps the jīva (paśu) revolving under pāśa (bondage).
It emphasizes arcana (worship) as a practical doorway for the deluded mind: worship of Saguna Śiva—especially through Śiva-liṅga pūjā—purifies karma and directs the devotee toward Śiva’s grace, which culminates in liberation.
A direct takeaway is daily Śiva-arcana with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple observances like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady devotion and remembrance.