Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

द्वितीयावरणे पूज्या विघ्नेशाश्चक्रवर्तिनः । तृतीयावरणे पूज्या भवाद्या अष्टमूर्तयः

Transliteration

dvitīyāvaraṇe pūjyā vighneśāścakravartinaḥ | tṛtīyāvaraṇe pūjyā bhavādyā aṣṭamūrtayaḥ

Translation

Im zweiten Bezirk sind Vighneśa (Gaṇeśa) und die Cakravartin, die Weltenherrscher, zu verehren. Im dritten Bezirk sind die Acht Manifesten Formen (Aṣṭamūrti), beginnend mit Bhava, zu verehren.

Word by Word

• dvitīya-āvaraṇe: in the second enclosure
• dvitīya-āvaraṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (क्रमवाचक-विशेषणपूर्वकः) — “in the second enclosure/āvaraṇa”

• pūjyāḥ: are to be worshipped
• pūjyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (कृदन्त; √pūj पूज् (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भावे क्तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् — “to be worshipped / worthy of worship”

• vighneśāḥ: the Vighneśas (Gaṇeśa-lords)
• vighneśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vighneśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

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

• cakravartinaḥ: the universal rulers (cakravartins)
• cakravartinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakravartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• tṛtīya-āvaraṇe: in the third enclosure
• tṛtīya-āvaraṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः — “in the third enclosure/āvaraṇa”

• pūjyāḥ: are to be worshipped
• pūjyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (कृदन्त; √pūj पूज् (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; क्तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त — “to be worshipped”

• bhava-ādyāḥ: beginning with Bhava
• bhava-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आदि-प्रयोगः) — “beginning with Bhava”

• aṣṭa-mūrtayaḥ: the eight forms (Aṣṭamūrtis)
• aṣṭa-mūrtayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः — “the eight forms”

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: By worshipping successive āvaraṇas—obstacle-removers, sovereign protectors, and Śiva’s cosmic aṣṭamūrti—the devotee aligns worldly order (sthiti) with Śiva’s immanent governance as Paśupati.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Shiva (Bhava)
• Ashtamurti

FAQs

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

It teaches the ordered approach to Śiva-upāsanā: obstacles are first pacified through Vighneśa, then cosmic order is honored through the sovereign powers, and finally Śiva is contemplated as Aṣṭamūrti—His immanence pervading the universe—so the devotee’s worship becomes complete and inwardly steady.

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

The “enclosures” (āvaraṇas) indicate a structured liṅga-pūjā where Saguna Śiva is worshipped with attendant deities and cosmic principles; the Aṣṭamūrti worship specifically affirms that the liṅga signifies Śiva present in all elements and functions, guiding the devotee from outer rite to deeper recognition of Pati (Śiva) as the indwelling Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform āvaraṇa-pūjā in sequence: invoke Vighneśa for removal of impediments, then offer respects to the ruling cosmic powers, and meditate on Śiva as Aṣṭamūrti (beginning with Bhava) while continuing liṅga worship—ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).