Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
ईश्वर उवाच । आज्ञाहीनं क्रियाहीनं श्रद्धाहीनं वरानने । आज्ञार्थं दक्षिणाहीनं सदा जप्तं च निष्फलम् । आज्ञासिद्धं क्रियासिद्धं श्रद्धासिद्धं ममात्मकम् । एवं चेद्दक्षिणायुक्तं मंत्रसिद्धिर्महत्फलम्
īśvara uvāca | ājñāhīnaṃ kriyāhīnaṃ śraddhāhīnaṃ varānane | ājñārthaṃ dakṣiṇāhīnaṃ sadā japtaṃ ca niṣphalam | ājñāsiddhaṃ kriyāsiddhaṃ śraddhāsiddhaṃ mamātmakam | evaṃ ceddakṣiṇāyuktaṃ maṃtrasiddhirmahatphalam
自在天（Īśvara）曰：“汝容颜端丽者，若无师长许可、无所规定之行持、无有信心而修持诵念，即使恒常重复，亦终归无果；又为成就师命而行之仪轨，若缺应供之达克希那（供养），亦复无果。然若许可圆满、行持圆满、信心圆满，则此曼怛罗即成我之自性；如是复以达克希那相随，则咒之成就将结大果。”
Lord Shiva (Īśvara)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse teaches that mantra-japa bears real spiritual fruit only when grounded in guru-authorization (ājñā), right observance (kriyā), and living faith (śraddhā). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such japa becomes a means for Shiva’s grace to manifest, making the mantra ‘of Shiva’s own nature’ for the practitioner.
Linga worship and Saguna Shiva upāsanā are effective when performed as prescribed—received through proper instruction and carried out with devotion and discipline. The verse emphasizes that external worship and internal japa must align with authorized Shaiva practice, so the worship becomes a conduit for Shiva’s presence and grace.
Practice mantra-japa only after receiving proper guidance/permission (dīkṣā or ājñā), maintain prescribed disciplines (purity, timing, nyāsa/ācāra as taught), cultivate faith, and honor the tradition with appropriate dakṣiṇā or offering to the guru/ritual context—then mantra-siddhi yields ‘great fruit.’