Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 48
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
तपः कर्म जपो ध्यानं ज्ञानं वेत्यनुपूर्वशः । पञ्चधा कथ्यते सद्भिस्तदेव भजनं पुनः । अन्यात्मविदितं बाह्यमस्मदभ्यर्चनादिकम् । तदेव तु स्वसंवेद्यमाभ्यंतरमुदाहृतम्
tapaḥ karma japo dhyānaṃ jñānaṃ vetyanupūrvaśaḥ | pañcadhā kathyate sadbhistadeva bhajanaṃ punaḥ | anyātmaviditaṃ bāhyamasmadabhyarcanādikam | tadeva tu svasaṃvedyamābhyaṃtaramudāhṛtam
A austeridade, a ação ritual, a repetição do mantra, a meditação e o conhecimento espiritual—na devida ordem—são ensinados pelos sábios como quíntuplos; e isso mesmo se chama bhajana, a devoção. Aquilo que é conhecido por outros é dito externo—como o nosso culto e ritos correlatos—; mas essa mesma devoção, experimentada diretamente no íntimo de si, é declarada interna.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It defines bhajana (devotion to Shiva) as a graded discipline—tapas, karma, japa, dhyana, and jnana—culminating in inward realization, not merely outward religiosity.
It affirms that external Linga-worship and rites are valid as “outer” devotion, but their fulfillment is “inner” devotion—direct inner experience of Shiva attained through japa, meditation, and knowledge.
It points to disciplined Shiva-upasana: begin with karma (puja/abhyarchana) supported by tapas, then stabilize japa (e.g., Panchakshara), deepen into dhyana, and mature into jnana as inward, self-evident realization.