Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

तेन निर्विषया बुद्धिः केवलेह प्रवर्तते तस्मात्सविषयं ध्यानं बालार्ककिरणाश्रयम्

Therefore, here the intellect operates only when it has no object; thus, meditation with an object is like the rays of the rising sun.

सूक्ष्माश्रयं निर्विषयं नापरं परमार्थतः यद्वा सविषयं ध्यानं तत्साकारसमाश्रयम्

Subtle meditation is without an object; there is nothing higher in the ultimate sense. Or, meditation with an object is based on a form.

निराकारात्मसंवित्तिर्ध्यानं निर्विषयं मतम् निर्बीजं च सबीजं च तदेव ध्यानमुच्यते

Meditation without an object is considered awareness whose nature is formless; both with and without a seed, that alone is called meditation.

निराकारश्रयत्वेन साकाराश्रयतस्तथा तस्मात्सविषयं ध्यानमादौ कृत्वा सबीजकम्

Because of reliance on the formless as well as on form, therefore, at first, one should perform meditation with an object, which is with a seed.

अंते निर्विषयं कुर्यान्निर्बीजं सर्वसिद्धये प्राणायामेन सिध्यंति देव्याः शांत्यादयः क्रमात्

In the end, one should make it without an object, without a seed, for the attainment of all perfections; by means of breath-control, the states of peace and so on of the Goddess are gradually accomplished.

शांतिः प्रशांतिर्दीप्तिश्च प्रसादश्च ततः परम् शमः सर्वापदां चैव शांतिरित्यभिधीयते

Peace, deep tranquility, radiance, and then supreme clarity—these are called peace, the cessation of all calamities.

तमसो ऽन्तबहिर्नाशः प्रशान्तिः परिगीयते बहिरन्तःप्रकाशो यो दीप्तिरित्यभिधीयते

The destruction of darkness within and without is called deep tranquility; the illumination that is both inner and outer is called radiance.

स्वस्थता या तु सा बुद्धः प्रसादः परिकीर्तितः कारणानि च सर्वाणि सबाह्याभ्यंतराणि च

That state of well-being is known as clarity by the wise; all causes, both external and internal,

बुद्धेः प्रसादतः क्षिप्रं प्रसन्नानि भवन्त्युत ध्याता ध्यानं तथा ध्येयं यद्वा ध्यानप्रयोजनम् एतच्चतुष्टयं ज्ञात्वा ध्याता ध्यानं समाचरेत्

Quickly become favorable through the clarity of the intellect: the meditator, the meditation, the object of meditation, or the purpose of meditation—knowing these four, the meditator should practice meditation.

ज्ञानवैराग्यसंपन्नो नित्यमव्यग्रमानसः श्रद्दधानः प्रसन्नात्मा ध्याता सद्भिरुदाहृतः

He who is endowed with knowledge and detachment, whose mind is always undistracted, who has faith and a serene self, is called a meditator by the good.