Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
तदर्धं वा तदर्धं वा मासमेकमथापि वा । दिनद्वादशकं वा ऽथ दिनषट्कमथापि वा
tadardhaṃ vā tadardhaṃ vā māsamekamathāpi vā | dinadvādaśakaṃ vā 'tha dinaṣaṭkamathāpi vā
จะเป็นครึ่งหนึ่งของระยะนั้น หรือครึ่งหนึ่งลงไปอีก; หรือครบหนึ่งเดือน; หรือสิบสองวัน; หรือหกวัน—ก็ล้วนเป็นช่วงเวลาที่สามารถรับวัตรแห่งการบูชาพระศิวะได้
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Further gradation (month/12 days/6 days) shows Śiva’s accessibility; even short, sincere observance can open the channel for anugraha and begin pāśa-loosening.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It emphasizes Śiva’s accessibility: the fruit of disciplined observance is not restricted to only long austerities—devotion practiced with steadiness, even for shorter periods, is spiritually meaningful and purifying.
By allowing flexible time-frames for observance, it supports regular Saguna worship—such as Liṅga-pūjā with mantra, offerings, and restraint—so devotees can align practice with capacity while keeping Śiva as the central focus.
Undertake a Śiva-vrata for a chosen duration (six days, twelve days, or a month), maintaining daily worship—typically including pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), purity/fasting as able, and reverent Liṅga-pūjā.