Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
अध्यापनं चाध्ययनं यजनं याजनं तथा । ध्यानमीश्वरभावश्च सततं ज्ञानशीलता । य एवं वर्तते विप्रो ज्ञानयोगस्य सिद्धये । अचिरादेव विज्ञानं लब्ध्वा योगं च विंदति । दग्ध्वा देहमिमं ज्ञानी क्षणाज्ज्ञानाग्निना प्रिये
adhyāpanaṃ cādhyayanaṃ yajanaṃ yājanaṃ tathā | dhyānamīśvarabhāvaśca satataṃ jñānaśīlatā | ya evaṃ vartate vipro jñānayogasya siddhaye | acirādeva vijñānaṃ labdhvā yogaṃ ca viṃdati | dagdhvā dehamimaṃ jñānī kṣaṇājjñānāgninā priye
Преподавание и учение, совершение жертвоприношения и совершение его для других, а также медитация, постоянное пребывание в чувстве присутствия Господа (ишвара-бхава) и неизменная склонность к священному знанию — когда брахман живёт так ради достижения джняна-йоги, он вскоре обретает виджняну (осуществлённое различение) и достигает йоги. О возлюбленная, словно в миг сжигая это телесное состояние огнём знания, знающий становится свободным.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Frames orthodox duties (adhyāpana, adhyayana, yajana, yājana) as preparatory purification, but culminates in vijñāna and yoga—an inner ‘tīrtha’ of knowledge-fire that liberates.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It presents a Shaiva Siddhanta-aligned discipline where scriptural learning, worshipful duty, meditation, and constant God-consciousness mature into vijñāna (realized knowledge) that burns bondage and leads to moksha under the grace and presence of Pati (Shiva).
The verse links outer dharma (yajana—ritual worship) with inner dhyāna and īśvara-bhāva, showing how Saguna worship (including Linga-upāsanā) becomes a support for purification and steady contemplation, culminating in liberating knowledge.
Regular worship (yajana) combined with meditation (dhyāna) and continuous īśvara-bhāva is emphasized; in practice this aligns with daily Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and contemplative remembrance that transforms conduct into jñāna-yoga.