Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)
कृष्ण उवाच । युगावर्तेषु सर्वेषु योगाचार्यच्छलेन तु । अवतारान्हि शर्वस्य शिष्यांश्च भगवन्वद
kṛṣṇa uvāca | yugāvarteṣu sarveṣu yogācāryacchalena tu | avatārānhi śarvasya śiṣyāṃśca bhagavanvada
Kṛṣṇa berkata: “Wahai Tuhan Yang Mulia, pada setiap putaran zaman, dengan menyamar sebagai guru yoga, mohon jelaskan penjelmaan Śarva (Śiva) serta para murid-Nya.”
Lord Krishna
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse frames Śiva as the supreme Guru who repeatedly guides beings in every yuga, adapting His instruction through the form of a yogācārya, emphasizing liberation through right knowledge and disciplined practice under divine guidance.
By requesting Śiva’s avatāras “in the guise of a yoga teacher,” the verse highlights Saguna Śiva—accessible through forms, teachings, and lineages—while still pointing to the same Pati (Lord) who is ultimately beyond form and can be approached through Linga worship and Guru-upadeśa.
It suggests the yogic path under a true Guru: disciplined meditation and inner worship of Śiva; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this supports steady sādhana alongside traditional aids like mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and guru-guided contemplation.