Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”
यथोक्तं तु वशिष्ठेन मंत्रं तपसि साधनम् । मंत्रेण तेन सद्भक्त्या पूजयामास शंकरम्
yathoktaṃ tu vaśiṣṭhena maṃtraṃ tapasi sādhanam | maṃtreṇa tena sadbhaktyā pūjayāmāsa śaṃkaram
وشیشٹھ کے کہے مطابق، اس نے اسی منتر کو تپسیا کا وسیلہ بنایا، اور اسی منتر سے سچی بھکتی کے ساتھ شنکر کی پوجا کی۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the verse is sādhana-centric: guru-instructed mantra becomes the instrument (sādhana) of tapas and direct worship of Śaṅkara, illustrating the Siddhānta pathway where disciplined practice culminates in grace.
Significance: Affirms mantra-upāsanā under guru-guidance as efficacious; stresses sad-bhakti (authentic devotion) as the inner qualifier for ritual success.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that mantra is not merely sound but a disciplined sādhana: when received from an authority like Vasiṣṭha and practiced with tapas and sadbhakti, it becomes a direct means to approach Śiva, the supreme Pati who grants grace and liberation.
The verse emphasizes saguna-upāsanā through mantra—worshipping Śaṅkara with devotion. In Shiva Purana practice, such mantra-japa commonly accompanies Linga pūjā, where the mantra becomes the inner offering that sanctifies external ritual.
Mantra-japa performed as tapas—steady repetition with sincere devotion—serving as the core practice; it can be integrated with daily Śiva-pūjā (such as Linga worship) as the primary meditative discipline.