Shloka 101

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

महेश्वरं हृदि ध्यायेन् नाभिपद्मे सदाशिवम् चन्द्रचूडं ललाटे तु भ्रूमध्ये शंकरं स्वयम्

Transliteration

maheśvaraṃ hṛdi dhyāyen nābhipadme sadāśivam candracūḍaṃ lalāṭe tu bhrūmadhye śaṃkaraṃ svayam

Translation

修行者当于心中观想大自在天摩诃伊湿伐罗；于脐莲观想常住湿婆Sadāśiva；于额上观想戴月者Candracūḍa；而于两眉之间，观想圣者商羯罗Śaṅkara自身——彼为Pati，内在之主，能松解缚兽(paśu)之缚索(pāśa)。

Word by Word

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara, the Great Lord

• हृदि: in the heart

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate

• नाभि-पद्मे: in the navel-lotus

• सदाशिवम्: Sadāśiva (ever-auspicious Śiva)

• चन्द्रचूडम्: Candracūḍa, the moon-crested Lord

• ललाटे: on the forehead

• तु: indeed

• भ्रू-मध्ये: in the middle of the eyebrows

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara, the beneficent Lord

• स्वयम्: Himself, directly

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shaiva dhyana-vidhi within the Purva-Bhaga discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara
• Sadashiva
• Chandrachuda
• Shankara

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It shifts linga-puja from outer ritual alone to antar-puja: Śiva is installed and worshipped within key inner centers, making the body a temple where the linga is realized as consciousness.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is presented as the immanent Pati—present in heart, navel-lotus, forehead, and brow-center—accessible through dhyāna, and capable of removing pāśa (bondage) from the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A dhyāna-krama aligned with inner centers (hṛd, nābhi-padma, lalāṭa, bhrūmadhya), characteristic of Pāśupata-oriented contemplative worship and concentration at the ājñā (brow) for direct Śiva-realization.