Shloka 4
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”
यथोक्तं तु वशिष्ठेन मंत्रं तपसि साधनम् । मंत्रेण तेन सद्भक्त्या पूजयामास शंकरम्
yathoktaṃ tu vaśiṣṭhena maṃtraṃ tapasi sādhanam | maṃtreṇa tena sadbhaktyā pūjayāmāsa śaṃkaram
వశిష్ఠుడు చెప్పినట్లే, ఆ మంత్రాన్ని తపస్సుకు సాధనంగా చేసుకొని, అదే మంత్రంతో సద్భక్తితో శంకరుని పూజించింది।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the verse is sādhana-centric: guru-instructed mantra becomes the instrument (sādhana) of tapas and direct worship of Śaṅkara, illustrating the Siddhānta pathway where disciplined practice culminates in grace.
Significance: Affirms mantra-upāsanā under guru-guidance as efficacious; stresses sad-bhakti (authentic devotion) as the inner qualifier for ritual success.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that mantra is not merely sound but a disciplined sādhana: when received from an authority like Vasiṣṭha and practiced with tapas and sadbhakti, it becomes a direct means to approach Śiva, the supreme Pati who grants grace and liberation.
The verse emphasizes saguna-upāsanā through mantra—worshipping Śaṅkara with devotion. In Shiva Purana practice, such mantra-japa commonly accompanies Linga pūjā, where the mantra becomes the inner offering that sanctifies external ritual.
Mantra-japa performed as tapas—steady repetition with sincere devotion—serving as the core practice; it can be integrated with daily Śiva-pūjā (such as Linga worship) as the primary meditative discipline.