Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 52
एवं ध्यात्वा तु हृत्पद्मे जगतः पितरौ शिवौ । जप्त्वा तदात्मकं मंत्रं तदंते बहिरर्चयेत्
evaṃ dhyātvā tu hṛtpadme jagataḥ pitarau śivau | japtvā tadātmakaṃ maṃtraṃ tadaṃte bahirarcayet
Assim, tendo meditado no lótus do coração em Śiva e Śivā, os pais do mundo, recite-se o mantra que é a própria essência deles; e, ao final, realize-se o culto externo.
Narratorial/Instructional voice within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa (speaker not explicit in the snippet)
Scene: A yogin seated in padmāsana visualizing Śiva and Śivā enthroned within a luminous heart-lotus; subtle transition to outer shrine worship with lamps and flowers.
FAQs
Inner worship (dhyāna and japa) should mature into outer worship (arcana), uniting contemplation with disciplined action.
No particular tīrtha is referenced; the teaching is a general pūjā-krama (ritual sequence).
Dhyāna in the heart-lotus → mantra-japa embodying Śiva–Śivā → external arcana (formal worship).