Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

रक्तचन्दनपुष्पाढ्यं पानीयं चातिशीतलम् । मृदु एलारसाक्तं च खण्डं पूगफलस्य च

Transliteration

raktacandanapuṣpāḍhyaṃ pānīyaṃ cātiśītalam | mṛdu elārasāktaṃ ca khaṇḍaṃ pūgaphalasya ca

Translation

ينبغي أن يُقَدِّم ماءً للشرب شديد البرودة، مُعَطَّرًا بالزهور وخشب الصندل الأحمر؛ وأن يهيّئ أيضًا سُكَّرًا نباتًا طريًّا مُعَطَّرًا بالهيل، مع قطعٍ من ثمر الفوفل (جوز الأريكا).

Word by Word

• रक्त-चन्दन-पुष्प-आढ्यम्: rich with red-sandal flowers
• रक्त-चन्दन-पुष्प-आढ्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + candana (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘रक्तचन्दनपुष्पैः आढ्यम्’ (समृद्धम्) — पानीय-विशेषणम्

• पानीयम्: drinking water
• पानीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pānīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अति-शीतलम्: very cool
• अति-शीतलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + śītala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘अत्यन्तं शीतलम्’—पानीय-विशेषणम्

• मृदु: soft
• मृदु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛdu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (खण्ड-विशेषण)

• एला-रस-आक्तम्: smeared with cardamom-juice
• एला-रस-आक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: elā (प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākta (कृदन्त; √añj (धातु) → क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘एला-रसेन आक्तम्’ (smeared/anointed) — खण्ड-विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• खण्डम्: a piece/lump (sugar lump)
• खण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पूग-फलस्य: of the areca fruit
• पूग-फलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūga (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘पूगस्य फलम्’ (areca-nut)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models upacāra-sevā (hospitality to the Lord) as a means for the bound soul (paśu) to soften egoity and receive Śiva’s grace through disciplined pūjā.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śuddhi (purity) and bhakti (devotion) expressed through sattvic offerings—cool water, fragrance, and gentle sweetness—signifying a calm, purified mind offered to Pati (Shiva), the liberating Lord.

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

These are upacāras (attentive services) offered to Saguna Shiva in Linga-puja, treating the Linga as the living presence of Shiva and honoring Him with cooling, fragrant, and pleasing substances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Linga-puja with cool water and fragrant items as naivedya/upacāra while maintaining a steady, sattvic awareness—ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).