Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 110

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

अविकारात्मको देवस्ततस्साधारणः पुरः । असाधारणकर्मा च सृष्टिस्थितिलयक्रमात्

Transliteration

avikārātmako devastatassādhāraṇaḥ puraḥ | asādhāraṇakarmā ca sṛṣṭisthitilayakramāt

Translation

ذلك الديفا (شيفا) ذو جوهرٍ لا يتبدّل؛ ولذا فهو الحقيقةُ العامةُ الشاملةُ الحاضرةُ قبل كلّ شيء. غير أنّ فعله، في ترتيب الخلق والحفظ والفناء، فعلٌ فريدٌ خارقٌ لا يشبه فعلَ أحد.

Word by Word

• अविकारात्मकः: of unchanging nature
• अविकारात्मकः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविकार + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘अविकारः आत्मा/स्वभावः यस्य’ (of unchanging nature)

• देवः: the god/deity
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘therefore/from that’

• साधारणः: common/general
• साधारणः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरः: before/in front
• पुरः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘in front/previously’

• असाधारणकर्मा: having extraordinary deeds
• असाधारणकर्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असाधारण + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘असाधारणं कर्म यस्य’ (having uncommon actions)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction): ‘and’

• सृष्टिस्थितिलयक्रमात्: from/according to the sequence of creation, maintenance, and dissolution
• सृष्टिस्थितिलयक्रमात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि + स्थिति + लय + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative): ‘सृष्टिः च स्थितिः च लयः च (तेषां) क्रमः’ + पञ्चमी ‘-आत्’ (from/according to the sequence)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not site-specific; it states Śiva’s avikāratva (immutability) alongside his unique agency in the cosmic sequence of sṛṣṭi-sthiti-laya.

Significance: Supports siddhāntic devotion: worship of the changeless Pati who alone performs pañcakṛtya through śakti without undergoing change—leading to steadiness (dhairya) and refuge (śaraṇāgati).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic creation-preservation-dissolution (kalpa-krama implied)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is intrinsically changeless (avikāra) as the supreme Reality, yet He alone governs the cosmos through the unique power to manifest creation, sustain it, and withdraw it—showing transcendence and immanence together.

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

The Linga points to Śiva as the formless, changeless ground of being, while also honoring Him as the Lord who performs the cosmic functions; thus Linga worship bridges Nirguna truth and Saguna devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the unmoving witness while chanting the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating that all arising, abiding, and dissolving occurs in His presence.