Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

रुद्रो वरुणदिक्पत्रे विष्णुरुत्तरदिग्दले । चतुर्णामपि देवानां पृथगावरणान्यथ

Transliteration

rudro varuṇadikpatre viṣṇuruttaradigdale | caturṇāmapi devānāṃ pṛthagāvaraṇānyatha

Translation

يُوضَع رودرا على بتلة جهة فارونا (الربع الغربي)، ويُوضَع فيشنو على بتلة الجهة الشمالية. وهكذا، ولجميع الآلهة الأربعة، تُرتَّب الأغلفة الحامية (آفَرَنا) على حدة، وفق الترتيب اللائق.

Word by Word

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• वरुण-दिक्-पत्रे: in the leaf/petal of Varuṇa-direction (west)
• वरुण-दिक्-पत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative) ‘वरुणस्य दिशः पत्रे’

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तर-दिक्-दले: in the petal/leaf of the northern direction
• उत्तर-दिक्-दले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘उत्तरदिशि दलम्’

• चतुर्णाम्: of four
• चतुर्णाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सङ्ख्याविशेषण) षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); लिङ्ग-निर्देशः अव्यक्त (gender per qualified noun)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आवरणानि: enclosures/coverings
• आवरणानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (discourse particle) ‘then/now’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Vishnu
• Varuna

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is not random but ordered: divine powers are invoked directionally in a consecrated maṇḍala, so the sādhaka’s mind becomes protected (āvaraṇa) and steadily oriented toward Pati—Rudra—who grants liberation.

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

In saguna upāsanā, the Liṅga or Śiva is worshipped within a structured field of sanctity—directions, petals, and āvaraṇas—so that all invoked forces support Śiva-centered realization rather than dispersing attention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A directional lotus/maṇḍala visualization or placement during pūjā/nyāsa: assign deities to specific petals and establish separate protective āvaraṇas, while maintaining japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the stabilizing core.