Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

तत्तत्तत्त्वाधिपामेव मूर्तिं स्थूलां विचिंतयेत् सदाशिवांता ब्रह्माद्यभवाद्याश्चाष्टमूर्तयः

For each element, one should contemplate its presiding deity in a gross form, up to Sadāśiva; Brahmā and the others, up to the eighth forms, beginning with creation.

शिवस्य मूर्तयः स्थूलाः शिवशास्त्रे विनिश्चिताः घोरा मिश्रा प्रशान्ताश्च मूर्तयस्ता मुनीश्वरैः

The gross forms of Shiva are established in the scriptures of Shiva: fierce, mixed, and peaceful forms, as declared by the great sages.

फलाभिलाषरहितैश्चिन्त्याश्चिन्ताविशारदैः घोराश्चेच्चिंतिताः कुर्युः पापरोगपरिक्षयम्

They should be contemplated by those free from desire for results, skilled in meditation; if the fierce forms are meditated upon, they destroy sin and disease.

चिरेण मिश्रे सौम्ये तु न सद्यो न चिरादपि सौम्ये मुक्तिर्विशेषेण शांतिः प्रज्ञा प्रसिध्यति

By meditating on the mixed or gentle forms, liberation does not come immediately or after a long time; but with the gentle form, liberation, peace, and wisdom are especially attained.

सिध्यंति सिद्धयश्चात्र क्रमशो नात्र संशयः

Here, the attainments are accomplished in order; there is no doubt about this.

श्रीकंठनाथं स्मरतां सद्यः सर्वार्थसिद्धयः प्रसिध्यंतीति मत्वैके तं वै ध्यायंति योगिनः

Some, believing that by remembering Lord Śrīkaṇṭha all desired attainments are quickly accomplished, meditate on him—these are the yogis.

स्थित्यर्थं मनसः केचित्स्थूलध्यानं प्रकुर्वते स्थूलं तु निश्चलं चेतो भवेत्सूक्ष्मे तु तत्स्थिरम्

Some, for the stability of the mind, practice gross meditation; when the mind is fixed on the gross, it becomes steady in the subtle as well.

शिवे तु चिंतिते साक्षात्सर्वाः सिध्यन्ति सिद्धयः मूर्त्यंतरेषु ध्यातेषु शिवरूपं विचिंतयेत्

When Shiva is meditated upon, all attainments are directly accomplished; when other forms are meditated upon, one should contemplate the form of Shiva within them.

लक्षयेन्मनसः स्थैर्यं तत्तद्ध्यायेत्पुनः पुनः ध्यानमादौ सविषयं ततो निर्विषयं जगुः

One should observe the steadiness of the mind, and again and again meditate on that; at first, meditation is with an object, then, it is said, without an object.

तत्र निर्विषयं ध्यानं नास्तीत्येव सतां मतम् बुद्धेर्हि सन्ततिः काचिद्ध्यानमित्यभिधीयते

Among the wise, it is held that meditation without an object does not exist, for any continuous flow of the intellect is called meditation.