Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 72

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

प्रतिमा वापि देवस्य गूढदेहमथापि वा । पूजाहोमजपध्यानसाधनानि च संभवे

Transliteration

pratimā vāpi devasya gūḍhadehamathāpi vā | pūjāhomajapadhyānasādhanāni ca saṃbhave

Translation

سواء أكانت تمثالًا مقدّسًا (برَتِيمَا) للرب، أم حتى حضوره اللطيف ذو الجسد المستور، يا شَمبهو—فالعبادة، والهوما (قربان النار)، وتكرار المانترا (جَپا)، والتأمّل (دهيانا) كلها وسائل صحيحة للتحقّق الروحي.

Word by Word

• pratimā: image, idol
• pratimā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (alternative particle/विकल्पार्थक)

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (also/even/अपि)

• devasya: of the deity
• devasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

• gūḍha-deham: the hidden body (subtle form)
• gūḍha-deham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gūḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya samāsa (कर्मधारय), Napuṃsakaliṅga (neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

• atha: then, or else
• atha: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Anantarya/ārambha-avyaya (then/now; connective/अथ)

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (also/even/अपि)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (alternative particle/विकल्पार्थक)

• pūjā-homa-japa-dhyāna-sādhanāni: means such as worship, oblation, recitation, and meditation
• pūjā-homa-japa-dhyāna-sādhanāni: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + homa (प्रातिपदिक) + japa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhanāni/sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Itaretara) Dvandva samāsa (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व) with final member sādhanāni; Napuṃsakaliṅga (neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• saṃbhave: in (their) occurrence/coming into being
• saṃbhave: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śambhu)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It affirms that Shiva can be approached both as a worshipful form (saguṇa) and as a subtle, inner presence (beyond form), and that classical disciplines—pūjā, homa, japa, and dhyāna—are legitimate paths to Shiva’s grace and realization.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The “pratimā” points to form-based worship such as the Śiva-liṅga or a murti, while “gūḍha-deha” supports inward contemplation of Shiva as the indwelling Lord; the verse harmonizes external ritual with internal realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends a complete Shaiva sādhanā: perform pūjā and homa as outer worship, and support them with japa (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna to internalize Shiva-consciousness.