Shiv Puran Vayaviya Samhita: Shiva Philosophy, Pashupata Yoga and Upamanyu

The Vayaviya Samhita is the last and deepest part of the Shiv Puran. Vayu, the wind god, told it to the sages at Naimisharanya, hence its name. It has two sections: the first on the philosophy of Shiva and creation, the second on the worship of Shiva, yoga and devotion.

The story of Naimisharanya

Brahma told the sages he would release a wheel of the mind; where its rim (nemi) fell would be the holiest place for austerity. The place where it fell was called Naimisha, Naimisharanya, in today's Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. There the sages held a long sacrifice, at the end of which Vayu told them this samhita.

Pati, pashu and pasha

The Vayaviya Samhita sets out the three basic principles of Shaiva philosophy:

• Pati: Lord Shiva, master of all, all-knowing and free.
• Pashu: souls, bound within their limits. From Brahma to a blade of grass all are pashu, and Shiva is their Lord, Pashupati.
• Pasha: the bonds that tie the soul: ignorance, karma and maya.

The soul's goal is to cut these bonds by Shiva's grace and recognise its true Shiva-nature. That grace comes through devotion, knowledge and initiation by a guru.

The Pashupata vow

The Pashupata vow is a special observance of Shiva worship in which the seeker applies sacred ash with mantras such as "Agnir iti bhasma", lives with restraint and simplicity, and meditates constantly on Shiva. Its aim is to move from the state of pashu to Pati. It may be kept for twelve years, one year or even twelve days.

The story of Upamanyu

Upamanyu, son of the sage Vyaghrapada, visited his uncle's home as a child and drank cow's milk there. Back home he asked his mother for milk, but in their poverty she mixed flour in water and gave it to him. "This is not milk," said the boy. Weeping, she said: "Son, we are forest hermits; where would we get milk? Milk can come only by Shiva's grace."

At that moment little Upamanyu began worshipping Shiva. Living on air alone, standing on one foot, he chanted "Om Namah Shivaya", and his austerity heated the world. To test him Shiva came in the form of Indra: "Leave Shiva and worship me; I will give you everything." Upamanyu replied: "I want nothing but Shiva. If you speak ill of him, I will burn you or give up my own life."

Seeing his unshakable devotion, Shiva and Parvati appeared. Shiva gave him an ocean of milk, immortality and a place among his attendants. This same Upamanyu later initiated Krishna into Shiva worship (told in the Uma Samhita).

Shiva yoga and meditation

The second section describes Shiva yoga in detail: restraint, observance, posture, breath control, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation and samadhi. The seeker meditates on Shiva in the lotus of the heart: five faces, three eyes, the blue mark on the throat, the moon and Ganga in his matted hair, trident, damaru, and hands showing boon and fearlessness.

Worship with the Panchakshara

The samhita gives the full method of worship with the five-syllable mantra: bath and purification, wearing ash and rudraksha, sitting and making the resolve, worship of Ganesha, bathing the linga, offering bilva leaves, incense, lamp and food, chanting the Panchakshara 108 times or more, aarti and circumambulation, and finally a prayer for forgiveness. It adds that if materials are lacking, worship done in the mind is equally fruitful.

The close of the Shiv Puran

At the end Suta ji says that whoever reads or hears the whole Shiv Puran with faith gains happiness in this world and Shiva's presence at the end.

What this samhita teaches

• We are all pashu, bound by habit, ignorance and desire; Shiva, Pashupati, frees us.
• God bows before unshakable devotion like little Upamanyu's; age is no bar to devotion.
• Even in poverty the mother turned her child towards God; faith is the greatest wealth.
• If you have no materials, worship in the mind is complete worship.