Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
चत्वारिंशत्समावृत्तीः प्राणानायम्य संस्मरेत् । मंत्रं मंत्रार्थविद्धीमानशक्तः शक्तितो जपेत् । पञ्चकं त्रिकमेकं वा प्राणायामं समाचरेत् । अगर्भं वा सगर्भं वा सगर्भस्तत्र शस्यते
catvāriṃśatsamāvṛttīḥ prāṇānāyamya saṃsmaret | maṃtraṃ maṃtrārthaviddhīmānaśaktaḥ śaktito japet | pañcakaṃ trikamekaṃ vā prāṇāyāmaṃ samācaret | agarbhaṃ vā sagarbhaṃ vā sagarbhastatra śasyate
चत्वारिंशत्समावृत्तिभिः प्राणानायम्य संस्मरेत्। मन्त्रार्थवित् धीमान् यथाशक्त्या मन्त्रं जपेत्, अशक्तोऽपि शक्तितः। पञ्चकं त्रिकमेकं वा प्राणायामं समाचरेत्; अगर्भं वा सगर्भं वा, तत्र सगर्भः प्रशस्यते।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Frames disciplined prāṇāyāma and mantra-artha-jñāna as means for the bound soul to become fit for Śiva’s liberating grace.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that prāṇāyāma should support remembrance of Shiva, and that mantra-japa becomes more fruitful when done with understanding (mantrārtha) and in a disciplined, capacity-appropriate way—aligning the bound soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) by loosening the bonds (pāśa) of distraction.
By commending sagarbha (mantra-joined) prāṇāyāma, the verse emphasizes Saguna-oriented upāsanā: the practitioner unites breath with Shiva’s mantra and remembrance, making inner worship a direct support to Linga-devotion and mantra-based Shaiva practice.
Practice prāṇāyāma in counted rounds (even 1, 3, or 5 sets), then perform mantra-japa according to one’s strength—preferably sagarbha prāṇāyāma (breath-control joined with mantra), with attention to the mantra’s meaning.