Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
उपगम्य गुरुं विप्रमाचार्यं तत्त्ववेदिनम् । जापितं सद्गुणोपेतं ध्यानयोगपरायणम् । तोषयेत्तं प्रयत्नेन भावशुद्धिसमन्वितः । वाचा च मनसा चैव कायेन द्रविणेन च
upagamya guruṃ vipramācāryaṃ tattvavedinam | jāpitaṃ sadguṇopetaṃ dhyānayogaparāyaṇam | toṣayettaṃ prayatnena bhāvaśuddhisamanvitaḥ | vācā ca manasā caiva kāyena draviṇena ca
当亲近上师——那位成就的婆罗门阿阇梨、通达真理（tattva）者——弟子应竭力令其欢喜：此师安住于持诵（japa），具足善德，专志于禅观瑜伽。以意乐清净，当勤恳奉悦之——以言语、以心念、以身行，并以财物供养。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that progress in Shaiva sadhana depends on approaching a true tattva-knowing guru and pleasing him with sincere inner purity, because the guru transmits right knowledge and disciplines the seeker in japa and meditation toward liberation.
In the Shiva Purana, correct Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva upasana are learned through an acharya grounded in mantra-japa and dhyana; serving such a guru safeguards the rites from ego and turns external worship into inward devotion aligned with Shiva-tattva.
The verse highlights japa and dhyana-yoga under a qualified guru, along with guru-seva expressed through respectful speech, mental reverence, physical service, and appropriate offerings.