Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
चत्वारिंशत्समावृत्तीः प्राणानायम्य संस्मरेत् । मंत्रं मंत्रार्थविद्धीमानशक्तः शक्तितो जपेत् । पञ्चकं त्रिकमेकं वा प्राणायामं समाचरेत् । अगर्भं वा सगर्भं वा सगर्भस्तत्र शस्यते
catvāriṃśatsamāvṛttīḥ prāṇānāyamya saṃsmaret | maṃtraṃ maṃtrārthaviddhīmānaśaktaḥ śaktito japet | pañcakaṃ trikamekaṃ vā prāṇāyāmaṃ samācaret | agarbhaṃ vā sagarbhaṃ vā sagarbhastatra śasyate
เมื่อควบคุมลมหายใจเป็นสี่สิบรอบอย่างมีจังหวะแล้ว พึงระลึกถึง (พระเป็นเจ้า). ผู้มีปัญญาและรู้ความหมายของมนตร์ แม้ยังไม่มีกำลังเต็มที่ ก็พึงสวดชปะตามกำลังของตน. ปราณายามอาจทำเป็นชุดห้า ชุดสาม หรือแม้แต่ชุดเดียว. จะเป็นแบบอคัรภะหรือสคัรภะก็ตาม ในที่นี้แบบสคัรภะได้รับการยกย่องเป็นพิเศษ.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Frames disciplined prāṇāyāma and mantra-artha-jñāna as means for the bound soul to become fit for Śiva’s liberating grace.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that prāṇāyāma should support remembrance of Shiva, and that mantra-japa becomes more fruitful when done with understanding (mantrārtha) and in a disciplined, capacity-appropriate way—aligning the bound soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) by loosening the bonds (pāśa) of distraction.
By commending sagarbha (mantra-joined) prāṇāyāma, the verse emphasizes Saguna-oriented upāsanā: the practitioner unites breath with Shiva’s mantra and remembrance, making inner worship a direct support to Linga-devotion and mantra-based Shaiva practice.
Practice prāṇāyāma in counted rounds (even 1, 3, or 5 sets), then perform mantra-japa according to one’s strength—preferably sagarbha prāṇāyāma (breath-control joined with mantra), with attention to the mantra’s meaning.