Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
स्थित्यर्थं मनसः केचित्स्थूलध्यानं प्रकुर्वते । स्थूलं तु निश्चलं चेतो भवेत्सूक्ष्मे तु तत्स्थिरम्
sthityarthaṃ manasaḥ kecitsthūladhyānaṃ prakurvate | sthūlaṃ tu niścalaṃ ceto bhavetsūkṣme tu tatsthiram
మనస్సు స్థిరపడుటకై కొందరు స్థూల (సాకార) ధ్యానాన్ని చేస్తారు. స్థూలంలో చిత్తం నిశ్చలమవుతుంది; సూక్ష్మంలో ప్రవేశించినపుడు అక్కడ దృఢంగా స్థిరమవుతుంది.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: General yogic instruction: gross-to-subtle meditation as a method for stabilizing mind and preparing for higher realization.
Significance: Teaches a practical ladder: sākāra (gross/form) dhyāna steadies the mind, enabling nirākāra/subtle contemplation—supporting eventual release from pāśa.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches a graded Shaiva method of inner discipline: begin with a gross support for concentration to still the mind, then refine that attention into subtle contemplation where awareness becomes firmly established—supporting liberation-oriented yoga under Shiva’s grace.
Gross meditation aligns with Saguna worship—such as focusing on Shiva’s form or the Shiva-linga as an ālambana (support). As the mind becomes steady, the practitioner can move toward subtler contemplation of Shiva’s presence beyond form, without rejecting the devotional foundation.
A practical takeaway is to begin dhyāna with a concrete support—Shiva-linga, a murti, or mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—until the mind becomes niścala, then internalize the focus into subtler awareness of Shiva within.