Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37
स तैर्व्यस्तैस्समस्तैर्वा लिंगैरव्यभिचारिभिः । मंदमध्योत्तमैर्भावैर्विज्ञेयास्ते नरोत्तमाः
sa tairvyastaissamastairvā liṃgairavyabhicāribhiḥ | maṃdamadhyottamairbhāvairvijñeyāste narottamāḥ
บุรุษผู้ประเสริฐย่อมพึงรู้ได้ด้วยเครื่องหมายอันไม่คลาดเคลื่อนเหล่านี้—จะปรากฏทีละอย่างหรือพร้อมกันทั้งหมดก็ตาม—โดยภาวะมีสามระดับ คือ อ่อน กลาง และยอดเยี่ยม.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches discernment: true spiritual nobility is known by steady, unfailing inner signs (liṅgas)—not merely by external show—graded as lesser, middling, and supreme dispositions that mature toward Shiva-realization.
Here “liṅga” primarily means ‘mark’ or ‘characteristic.’ In Shaiva practice, outer Linga-worship bears fruit when supported by these inner, unwavering qualities—devotion, purity, and steadiness—through which Saguna worship leads toward the highest truth of Shiva.
Cultivate unwavering bhāva through daily Shiva-puja with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna; let external observances (like bhasma/rudraksha) be supported by consistent inner discipline rather than occasional enthusiasm.