Shloka 32

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

नीराजनादिकं कृत्वा पूजाशेषं समापयेत् । ध्यात्वा देवं च देवीञ्च मनुमष्टोत्तरं जपेत्

Transliteration

nīrājanādikaṃ kṛtvā pūjāśeṣaṃ samāpayet | dhyātvā devaṃ ca devīñca manumaṣṭottaraṃ japet

Translation

Nachdem man nīrājana (ārati) und die übrigen abschließenden Riten vollzogen hat, soll man den verbleibenden Teil der Verehrung ordnungsgemäß beenden. Dann, in Meditation über den Herrn Śiva und die Göttin Devī, wiederhole man das heilige Mantra hundertachtmal.

Word by Word

• नीराजन-आदिकम्: nīrājana and the like (rites)
• नीराजन-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीराजन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (नीराजनम् आदिः यस्य तत्)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having done’

• पूजा-शेषम्: the remaining part of the worship
• पूजा-शेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पूजायाः शेषः)

• सम्-आपयेत्: should complete/finish
• सम्-आपयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√पि/√आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having meditated’

• देवम्: the god (deity)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मनुम्: the mantra (manu)
• मनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अष्ट-उत्तरम्: one-hundred-and-eight (times)
• अष्ट-उत्तरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) मनोः/जपस्य; समासः तत्पुरुष (अष्ट अधिकं उत्तरम् = 108)

• जपेत्: should recite (mutter)
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Concluding rites (nīrājana) and mantra-japa with dhyāna of Śiva-Śakti are framed as the devotee’s final surrender, inviting anugraha and inner purification.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is perfected by a complete conclusion—ārati, mindful completion of all offerings, and then inner recollection through meditation and mantra-japa—uniting external rite with inward devotion to Pati (Śiva) along with Devī.

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

The verse reflects standard Saguna worship practice: after the visible, form-based rites (such as ārati to the Liṅga or mūrti), the devotee turns inward to dhyāna and japa, integrating ritual worship with contemplative remembrance of Śiva and Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ārati and concluding acts, finish the remaining steps of pūjā, then meditate on Śiva and Devī and do mantra-japa 108 times (commonly with the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” depending on one’s tradition).