Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायमपरे कुर्युः स्तोत्रं मंगलवाचनम् । जपं च विधिवच्चान्ये शिवभक्तिपरायणाः

Transliteration

svādhyāyamapare kuryuḥ stotraṃ maṃgalavācanam | japaṃ ca vidhivaccānye śivabhaktiparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

Einige Verehrer, ganz in Śiva-bhakti verankert, üben svādhyāya — das eigene Studium der heiligen Lehre. Andere rezitieren stotras (Hymnen) und sprechen mangala-vācana, segensreiche Worte. Wieder andere vollziehen japa in der rechten, von den Schriften gebotenen Weise.

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study (recitation)
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (others)

• कुर्युः: should do/perform
• कुर्युः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्तोत्रम्: hymn
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• मङ्गलवाचनम्: auspicious recitation
• मङ्गलवाचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल + वाचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—मङ्गलस्य वाचनम् (recitation of auspicious words)

• जपम्: japa (muttering)
• जपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• विधिवत्: properly, as prescribed
• विधिवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘according to rule’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘others’

• शिवभक्तिपरायणाः: devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• शिवभक्तिपरायणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + भक्ति + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—शिवे भक्तिः यस्य/येषां ते परायणाः (devoted to Śiva-bhakti)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse affirms that Śiva-bhakti is expressed through multiple orthodox disciplines—svādhyāya, stotra, and vidhivat japa—showing that liberation-oriented devotion is both heartfelt and methodical, aligning inner intent with scriptural practice.

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

These practices commonly accompany Saguna worship of Śiva—especially Linga-pūjā—where stotras and auspicious invocations sanctify the rite, and mantra-japa (often the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) internalizes the presence of Śiva as Pati within the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends disciplined mantra-japa performed vidhivat (with proper purity, intention, and count), supported by svādhyāya and stotra recitation—practices often paired in Śaiva tradition with rudrākṣa, bhasma (tripuṇḍra), and steady contemplation of Śiva.