Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठागणाम्बयोर्मध्ये महामोटीं समर्चयेत् । गणाम्बाचण्डयोर्मध्ये देवीं दुर्गां प्रपूजयेत्

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhāgaṇāmbayormadhye mahāmoṭīṃ samarcayet | gaṇāmbācaṇḍayormadhye devīṃ durgāṃ prapūjayet

Translation

بين جْيَيْشْثا (Jyeṣṭhā) وغَنَامْبا (Gaṇāmbā) تُقام عبادة مها‑موتي (Mahāmoṭī) على الوجه اللائق. وبين غَنَامْبا وتشَنْدا (Caṇḍā) تُعبد الإلهة دورغا (Durgā) على نحوٍ خاص.

Word by Word

• ज्येष्ठा-गणाम्बयोः: of Jyeṣṭhā and Gaṇāmbā
• ज्येष्ठा-गणाम्बयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + गणाम्बा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva)

• मध्ये: between/in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• महामोटīm: Mahāmoṭī (a goddess/name)
• महामोटīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामोटी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; देवी-विशेषनाम

• समर्चयेत्: should duly worship
• समर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: सम्

• गणाम्बा-चण्डयोः: of Gaṇāmbā and Caṇḍa
• गणाम्बा-चण्डयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणाम्बा (प्रातिपदिक) + चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (समाहार), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva)

• मध्ये: between
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• दुर्गाम्: Durgā
• दुर्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; देवी-विशेषनाम

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship reverently
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it continues the āvaraṇa-devī placements: Mahāmoṭī between Jyeṣṭhā and Gaṇāmbā, and Durgā between Gaṇāmbā and Caṇḍā—forming a graded śakti-band (protective feminine perimeter) around the Śaiva worship-space.

Significance: Emphasizes śakti-rakṣā: honoring Durgā and related devīs as protective powers that ‘conceal’ (tirodhāna) obstacles/inauspicious forces from the sādhaka and stabilize the rite so Śiva’s grace can descend.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Jyeshtha
• Ganamba
• Chanda
• Durga
• Devi

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship is complete when Shiva’s sacred sphere is honored along with specific manifestations of Shakti; reverencing the Devi-forms supports protection, auspiciousness, and steadiness on the path to liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

In Saguna practice, the Linga is worshiped together with attendant deities and the Goddess’s forms; this verse gives placement-based instructions, showing that Shakti’s worship is integrated within the Shaiva ritual environment rather than separate from it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured, location-specific pūjā: offer respectful worship (upacāras) to Mahāmoṭī and especially to Durgā in their indicated positions, aligning the devotee’s mind with protection (Durgā) and auspicious order within the sacred precinct.