Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace
यथाग्निमानयेत्युक्ते ज्वलत्काष्ठादृते स्वयम् । नाग्निरानीयते तद्वत्पूज्यो मूर्त्यात्मना शिवः
yathāgnimānayetyukte jvalatkāṣṭhādṛte svayam | nāgnirānīyate tadvatpūjyo mūrtyātmanā śivaḥ
Assim como, quando se diz “traze o fogo”, o fogo não pode ser trazido por si só sem um lenho ardente, do mesmo modo Śiva—embora em verdade transcenda todos os atributos—deve ser adorado em sua mūrti, a forma manifesta, para a devoção e a realização.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that the transcendent, formless Śiva is practically approached through a manifest support—mūrti/linga—so the mind can concentrate, devotion can mature, and grace can lead to realization.
Like fire known through burning wood, Śiva is meditated upon and worshipped through the linga or other sacred forms; Saguna worship becomes the doorway to recognizing His Nirguna reality.
Establish worship with a concrete support—linga or murti—offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady attention and deepen bhakti.