Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अथवानुग्रहेच्छायां जगतो विचरेन्मुनिः यथाकामंगुणान्भोगान्भुक्त्वा मुक्तिं प्रयास्यति

Or, if the sage wishes to show grace to the world, he may move about, enjoying qualities and pleasures as he wishes, and then attain liberation.

अथ प्रयोगं योगस्य वक्ष्ये शृणु समाहितः शुभे काले शुभे देशे शिवक्षेत्रादिके पुनः विजने जंतुरहिते निःशब्दे बाधवर्जिते

Now I shall explain the procedure of yoga; listen attentively. At an auspicious time, in an auspicious place, especially in a sacred area of Shiva, or in a secluded spot free from living beings, in silence, and without disturbance—

सुप्रलिप्ते स्थले सौम्ये गन्धधूपादिवासिते मुक्तपुष्पसमाकीर्णे वितानादि विचित्रिते

—on a well-anointed, pleasant ground, fragrant with incense and perfumes, strewn with fresh flowers, and adorned with canopies and decorations—

कुशपुष्पसमित्तोयफलमूलसमन्विते नाग्न्यभ्याशे जलाभ्याशे शुष्कपर्णचये ऽपि वा

—supplied with kusa grass, flowers, sacrificial twigs, water, fruits, and roots; whether near fire, near water, or even upon a heap of dry leaves—

न दंशमशकाकीर्णे सर्पश्वापदसंकुले न च दुष्टमृगाकीर्णे न भये दुर्जनावृते

Not in a place swarming with biting insects or mosquitoes, nor in a spot infested by snakes or wild beasts, nor where there are wicked animals, nor in a place of fear or surrounded by evil people—

श्मशाने चैत्यवल्मीके जीर्णागारे चतुष्पथे नदीनदसमुद्राणां तीरे रथ्यांतरे ऽपि वा

Not in a cremation ground, an abandoned mound, a dilapidated house, a crossroads, on the banks of rivers, streams, or oceans, nor in the middle of a street—

न जीर्णोद्यानगोष्ठादौ नानिष्टे न च निंदिते नाजीर्णाम्लरसोद्गारे न च विण्मूत्रदूषिते

Not in an old garden, cowshed, or any inauspicious or disreputable place; not after eating indigestible or sour foods, nor where there is filth of excrement or urine—

नच्छर्द्यामातिसारे वा नातिभुक्तौ श्रमान्विते न चातिचिंताकुलितो न चातिक्षुत्पिपासितः

Not while vomiting, with diarrhea, after overeating, or when exhausted; not when overwhelmed by worry, nor when excessively hungry or thirsty—

नापि स्वगुरुकर्मादौ प्रसक्तो योगमाचरेत् युक्ताहारविहारश्च युक्तचेष्टश्च कर्मसु

Nor should one practice yoga while engaged in one's own or the guru's duties; one should be moderate in food and recreation, and balanced in actions—

युक्तनिद्राप्रबोधश्च सर्वायासविवर्जितः आसनं मृदुलं रम्यं विपुलं सुसमं शुचि

Balanced in sleep and wakefulness, avoiding all exertion; seated on a soft, pleasant, spacious, level, and clean seat—

पद्मकस्वस्तिकादीनामभ्यसेदासनेषु च अभिवंद्य स्वगुर्वंतानभिवाद्याननुक्रमात्

One should practice postures such as lotus or svastika; after respectfully greeting one's own teachers and elders, in proper order—

ऋजुग्रीवशिरोवक्षा नातिष्ठेच्छिष्टलोचनः किंचिदुन्नामितशिरा दंतैर्दंतान्न संस्पृशेत्

With the neck, head, and chest straight, not staring, the head slightly raised, and the teeth not touching each other—

दंताग्रसंस्थिता जिह्वामचलां सन्निवेश्य च पार्ष्णिभ्यां वृषणौ रक्षंस्तथा प्रजननं पुनः

The tongue placed motionless at the tip of the teeth; protecting the testicles and the generative organ with the heels—

ऊर्वोरुपरि संस्थाप्य बाहू तिर्यगयत्नतः दक्षिणं करपृष्ठं तु न्यस्य वामतलोपरि

Placing the arms crosswise with care above the thighs, the back of the right hand resting on the palm of the left—

उन्नाम्य शनकैः पृष्ठमुरो विष्टभ्य चाग्रतः संप्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्

Raising the back gently, keeping the chest firm in front, gazing at the tip of one's nose, not glancing in any direction—

संभृतप्राणसंचारः पाषाण इव निश्चलः स्वदेहायतनस्यांतर्विचिंत्य शिवमंबया

With the flow of breath gathered and steady, motionless like a stone, contemplating Shiva within the inner sanctuary of one's own body—

हृत्पद्मपीठिकामध्ये ध्यानयज्ञेन पूजयेत् मूले नासाग्रतो नाभौ कंठे वा तालुरंध्रयोः

In the center of the lotus-seat of the heart, one should worship by the sacrifice of meditation—at the base, at the tip of the nose, at the navel, at the throat, or at the palate—

भ्रूमध्ये द्वारदेशे वा ललाटे मूर्ध्नि वा स्मरेत् परिकल्प्य यथान्यायं शिवयोः परमासनम्

At the midpoint between the eyebrows, at the gateway, on the forehead, or at the crown, one should remember, establishing in due order the supreme seat of Shiva and the Goddess—

तत्र सावरणं वापि निरावरणमेव वा द्विदलेषोडशारे वा द्वादशारे यथाविधि

There, whether with a covering or without, in a lotus of two petals, of sixteen petals, or of twelve petals, as prescribed—

दशारे वा षडस्रे वा चतुरस्रे शिवं स्मरेत् भ्रुवोरंतरतः पद्मं द्विदलं तडिदुज्ज्वलम्

In a ten-petaled, six-petaled, or four-petaled form, one should remember Shiva; between the eyebrows is a lotus with two petals, shining like lightning.

भ्रूमध्यस्थारविन्दस्य क्रमाद्वै दक्षिणोत्तरे विद्युत्समानवर्णे च पर्णे वर्णावसानके

Within the lotus at the center between the eyebrows, on the right and left in order, are petals with the color of lightning, each at the end of a letter.

षोडशारस्य पत्राणि स्वराः षोडश तानि वै पूर्वादीनि क्रमादेतत्पद्मं कन्दस्य मूलतः

The sixteen petals are the sixteen vowels, arranged from the east in order; this lotus is at the root of the bulb.

ककारादिटकारांता वर्णाः पर्णान्यनुक्रमात्

The letters from 'ka' to 'tha' are on the petals in sequence.

गोक्षीरधवलस्योक्ता डादिफान्ता यथाक्रमम्

On the pure white lotus, the letters from 'ḍa' to 'pha' are placed in order.

विधूमांगारवर्णस्य वर्णा वाद्याश्च लान्तिमाः मूलाधारारविंदस्य हेमाभस्य यथाक्रमम् वकारादिसकारान्ता वर्णाः पर्णमयाः स्थिताः

On the lotus of the color of smokeless fire, the letters from 'ba' onward, ending with 'la', are arranged; on the golden lotus at the root center, the letters from 'va' to 'sa' are established on the petals in order.

एतेष्वथारविंदेषु यत्रैवाभिरतं मनः तत्रैव देवं देवीं च चिंतयेद्धीरया धिया

Among these lotuses, wherever the mind is especially absorbed, there one should contemplate the god and the goddess with steady understanding.

अंगुष्ठमात्रममलं दीप्यमानं समंततः शुद्धदीपशिखाकारं स्वशक्त्या पूर्णमण्डितम्

One should visualize a pure form, the size of a thumb, shining all around, shaped like a clear lamp flame, adorned completely with its own power.

इन्दुरेखासमाकारं तारारूपमथापि वा नीवारशूकस्सदृशं बिससुत्राभमेव वा

It may appear like a crescent moon, or in the form of a star, or resembling a grain of rice, or like the fiber of a lotus stalk.

कदम्बगोलकाकारं तुषारकणिकोपमम् क्षित्यादितत्त्वविजयं ध्याता यद्यपि वाञ्छति

Or like a ball of kadamba flowers, or like a drop of frost; if one desires mastery over the elements beginning with earth, one should meditate thus.