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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 28: Verses 17-28
The process of the eightfold Yoga
Eternally continuing in the prime of youth, He has a captivating appearance, is ever greeted by the entire universe and is impatient to show His grace to His servants His glory is worth singing and sanctifies all; nay, He confers glory even on men of sacred renown (like the demon king Bali). In this way one should meditate on the integral form of the Lord till the mind does not shake. The pastimes of the Lord are all attractive to the sight; hence with a mind full of sincere devotion one should visualize Him as standing, moving, sitting, lying or dwelling in one's heart. Having ascertained that his mind, though fixed on the aforementioned form of the Lord, only takes a collective view of all His limbs, the practicant should fix it on each individual limb of the Lord (as follows). The devotee should (first of all) concentrate his thought on the Lord's lotus-feetadorned with the marks (in the form of lines) of a thunderbolt, a goad, a banner and a lotus-_. the splendour of whose prominent, ruddy and brilliant nails, resembling the orb of the moon, dispels the thick gloom of one's heart. The blessed Lord Siva became all the more blessed by bearing on His head the holy waters of the Ganga (the foremost of all rivers), which has its source in the water that washed the Lord's lotus-feet. Again, His feet are like a thunderbolt hurled to shatter the mountain of sins stored in the mind of the devotee meditating upon them. One should meditate on these for a long time. Then the devotee should impress on his heart the knees (as well as the shanks) of the birthless Lord (who cuts short the transmigration of His devotees), which are fondled by Laksmi (the goddess of fortune), the lotus-eyed mother of Brahma-the maker of the universe-and the adored of the gods, with Her shining sprout-like hands, placing them (the knees) on Her thighs. Next he should fix his mind on the Lord's thighs, the storehouse of energy, that possess the (blue)lustre of the linseed flower and appear most graceful when borne on the shoulders of Garuda (the king of the birds). Similarly he should contemplate on His rounded hips, encircled by a girdle resting on the exquisite yellow silk that covers them and extends up to His ankles. Now he should meditate on His pool-like navel at the centre of His belly, the abode of the entire system of the worlds, from which sprang the lotus representing all the spheres and forming the home of Brahma (the self-born). Likewise he should concentrate his thought on the Lord's nipples, resembling a pair of most excellent emeralds, which look whitish on account of the rays of the milk-white peari necklaces (adorning His chest). He should then fix his mind on the bosom of the Supreme Person, the abode of Goddess Mahalaksmi---which brings delight to the mind and eyes of men (who contemplate on it). He should also imprint on his mind an image of the neck of the Lord who is adored by the whole universe-a neck which serves to enhance the beauty of the Kaustubha gem itself. He should further focus his thought on the Lord's four arms, the abode of the guardians of the various spheres, the ornaments (armletsetc.),on which were burnished by revolving Mount Mandara (at the time of churning the milk ocean along with the gods at the dawn of creation). He should also duly contemplate on the Lord's discus (Sudarsana), containing a thousand spokes and possessing a dazzling lustre, as well as on the conch, which looks like a swan in His lotus-like palm. He should then call to mind the Lord's beloved mace, known by the name of Kaumodaki and besmeared with the clotted blood of enemy warriors; His garland (of sylvan flowers), attended with the humming of a swarm of bees; and the gem (Kaustubha) adorning His neck and representing the pure essential character of the Jivas (viz., the Spirit).
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