Shloka 56
Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā
पुनश्च पंचलक्षेण सारूप्यैश्वर्यमाप्नुयात् । आहत्य शतलक्षेण साक्षाद्ब्रह्मसमो भवेत्
punaśca paṃcalakṣeṇa sārūpyaiśvaryamāpnuyāt | āhatya śatalakṣeṇa sākṣādbrahmasamo bhavet
ยิ่งไปกว่านั้น ด้วยการสวดภาวนาห้าลักษะ ย่อมได้อิศวรรยะแห่งความเสมอรูปกับพระศิวะ และโดยรวมด้วยการสวดหนึ่งร้อยลักษะ (สิบล้าน) ย่อมเป็นดุจพรหมันโดยตรง
Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of Shiva-worship to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā, the teaching is framed around Kāśī/Viśveśvara as the locus of Śiva’s immediate grace: japa and worship culminate in sārūpya (likeness) and ultimately brahma-sāmya (identity with the Supreme), reflecting Kāśī’s reputation as the kṣetra of swift liberation.
Significance: Japa and darśana are presented as accelerating the soul’s ascent from sālokya/sārūpya toward sāyujya through Śiva’s anugraha (grace).
Type: panchakshara
FAQs
It ranks the progressive fruits of Panchākṣara-japa: first attaining sārūpya (likeness and divine status by Shiva’s grace), and ultimately brahma-sāmya—abidance in the Supreme Reality, indicating liberation through devotion and mantra.
The verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: repeated mantra-japa offered to Śiva—often alongside Liṅga-pūjā—purifies the soul and culminates in realization of the highest (Brahman), showing how Saguna worship matures into supreme knowledge by Śiva’s anugraha (grace).
Sustained japa with a fixed count (lakṣa-based repetition), ideally performed with purity, devotion, and daily discipline—commonly paired in the Shiva Purana tradition with Liṅga worship, rudrākṣa-mālā japa, and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) observance.