Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11
न्यासत्रैविध्य-भूतशुद्धि-प्रक्रिया
Threefold Nyāsa and the Procedure of Elemental Purification
विशोष्य वायुना पश्चाद्देहं कालाग्निना दहेत् । ततश्चोपरिभावेन कलास्संहृत्य वायुना । देहं संहृत्य वै दग्धं कलास्स्पृष्ट्वा सहाब्धिना । प्लावयित्वामृतैर्देहं यथास्थानं निवेशयेत्
viśoṣya vāyunā paścāddehaṃ kālāgninā dahet | tataścoparibhāvena kalāssaṃhṛtya vāyunā | dehaṃ saṃhṛtya vai dagdhaṃ kalāsspṛṣṭvā sahābdhinā | plāvayitvāmṛtairdehaṃ yathāsthānaṃ niveśayet
先以风神（Vāyu）之力使身躯枯槁，继而以时火（Kālāgni，时间之火）焚烧其身。随后以向上之内摄，凭风神收摄诸kalā（生命之分力），并将虽已焚尽之身撤回；再令诸kalā与海洋之理相触，使甘露（amṛta）充溢其身，复安置于其本位。
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Mahākāla as Lord of Time grants liberation; the liṅga is famed as svayaṃbhū and as the power that overrules kāla (time) for devotees.
Significance: Darśana/abhisheka associated with relief from fear of death and time-bound suffering; pradoṣa and mahāśivarātri worship are especially valued.
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: kāla-agni (time-fire) imagery; microcosmic pralaya and restoration
FAQs
It describes a Shaiva yogic process of saṃhāra (withdrawal) and punar-ādhāna (re-establishment), showing that by Śiva’s grace the yogin can transcend the body’s decay, Time’s consuming fire, and re-center consciousness in its rightful seat.
The method implies turning the mind upward into the Lord’s principle (Pati) and withdrawing energies into their source—an inner analogue of Linga-upāsanā, where the devotee gathers the dispersed self into Śiva’s stable, formless-yet-worshipable center.
A prāṇic withdrawal practice: drying and lifting the prāṇa through Vāyu (control of breath), contemplating dissolution by Kāla, then meditating on amṛta (nectar) as Śiva’s sustaining grace—best supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī and steady dhyāna.