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
Lại nữa, do trì tụng năm lakṣa lần, người ấy đạt được uy quang và quyền năng của sự đồng dạng (sārūpya) với Śiva. Tóm lại, do một trăm lakṣa (mười triệu) lần, người ấy trở nên trực tiếp ngang bằng với chính Brahman.
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.