Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

पंचमुद्राः प्रकर्तव्याः पूजावश्यं करेप्सिताः । एता मुद्राः प्रदर्श्यैव चरेत्पूजाविधिं नरः

Transliteration

paṃcamudrāḥ prakartavyāḥ pūjāvaśyaṃ karepsitāḥ | etā mudrāḥ pradarśyaiva caretpūjāvidhiṃ naraḥ

Translation

Wer die Verehrung mit rechter Disziplin vollziehen will, muss gewiss die fünf Mudrās (pañca-mudrās) ausführen. Erst nachdem diese Mudrās gezeigt wurden, soll man mit dem vorgeschriebenen Ablauf der Pūjā fortfahren.

Word by Word

• पञ्च-मुद्राः: the five mudrās (hand-gestures)
• पञ्च-मुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; द्विगुसमास (संख्यापूर्वक)

• प्रकर्तव्याः: to be performed
• प्रकर्तव्याः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done)

• पूजा-वश्यं: (that which is) dependent on worship / required for worship
• पूजा-वश्यं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूजायाः वश्यं = dependent on worship)

• करे: in the hand
• करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• ईप्सिताः: desired
• ईप्सिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्/ईप्स् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘पञ्चमुद्राः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (desired)

• एताः: these
• एताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• मुद्राः: mudrās (gestures)
• मुद्राः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• प्रदर्श्य: having shown
• प्रदर्श्य: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र+दृश् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having shown)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• चरेत्: should perform/should proceed
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पूजा-विधिं: the procedure of worship
• पूजा-विधिं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूजायाः विधिः)

• नरः: a man (the worshipper)
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General ritual-technology instruction: pañca-mudrās are indispensable for pūjā; only after displaying them should one proceed with the worship procedure.

Significance: Highlights the ‘seal’ (mudrā) as a means to regulate ritual space and mind—transforming ordinary action into consecrated action, loosening pāśa (bondage) through disciplined upāsanā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion (bhakti) should be supported by right procedure (vidhi): the mudrās “seal” the worshipper’s intention, steady the mind and body, and help the act of pūjā become a disciplined offering to Pati (Śiva), not a casual gesture.

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

In Saguna worship—especially liṅga-pūjā—the body participates through prescribed actions. Displaying the pañca-mudrās is presented as a prerequisite that sanctifies the worshipper’s approach before continuing with offerings, mantra, and upacāras to Śiva in worshipful form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform the pañca-mudrās as a preparatory step before beginning the main pūjā sequence; this aligns posture, breath, and attention so that mantra-japa and offerings are done with steadiness and reverence.