Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10
मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta
तं दृष्ट्वा सूतमायांतं मुनयो हृष्टमानसाः । तस्मै साम च पूजां च यथावत्प्रत्यपादयन्
taṃ dṛṣṭvā sūtamāyāṃtaṃ munayo hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | tasmai sāma ca pūjāṃ ca yathāvatpratyapādayan
சூதர் வருகையைப் பார்த்த முனிவர்கள் உள்ளம் மகிழ்ந்தனர். விதிப்படி அவருக்கு இனிய வரவேற்புச் சொற்களையும் உரிய பூஜையையும் செலுத்தினர்.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Satsaṅga and honoring the guru/narrator are presented as dharmic prerequisites for receiving Śiva-kathā; the merit is eligibility (adhikāra) for śravaṇa leading toward Śiva’s grace.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It establishes the dharmic foundation for receiving Shaiva wisdom: the teaching is approached with purity, joy, and reverence to the transmitter of sacred knowledge, which supports receptivity and inner transformation toward Shiva-realization.
The verse models ‘vidhi’—proper honoring before sacred engagement. In Shaiva practice, the same principle applies to Linga worship: one begins with respectful invocation, welcoming, and offering, treating the sacred presence (and the guru/ācārya who reveals it) with due pūjā.
Begin any Shiva Purana recitation or japa with sāma (gentle, auspicious invocation) and yathāvat pūjā—simple offerings, respectful seating, and a devotional intention—then proceed to listening (śravaṇa) or chanting (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya).