Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
स तैर्व्यस्तैस्समस्तैर्वा लिंगैरव्यभिचारिभिः । मंदमध्योत्तमैर्भावैर्विज्ञेयास्ते नरोत्तमाः
sa tairvyastaissamastairvā liṃgairavyabhicāribhiḥ | maṃdamadhyottamairbhāvairvijñeyāste narottamāḥ
Những bậc ưu tú trong loài người được nhận biết nhờ các dấu hiệu không sai chạy ấy—dù hiện riêng lẻ hay đồng thời—biểu lộ thành ba bậc tâm thái: nhẹ, trung, và thượng hảo.
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.