Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

शिवाचार्याभिषेकविधिः / Rite of Consecrating a Śiva-Teacher (Śivācārya Abhiṣeka)

Devanagari script

उपमन्युरुवाच । अथैवं संस्कृतं शिष्यं कृतपाशुपतव्रतम् । आचार्यत्वे ऽभिषिंचेत तद्योगत्वेन चान्यथा

Transliteration

upamanyuruvāca | athaivaṃ saṃskṛtaṃ śiṣyaṃ kṛtapāśupatavratam | ācāryatve 'bhiṣiṃceta tadyogatvena cānyathā

Translation

Upamanyu sprach: „Dann, nachdem der Schüler — der das Pāśupata‑Gelübde auf sich genommen hat — so rechtmäßig geläutert und vorbereitet worden ist, soll der Lehrer ihn durch Abhiṣeka salben und in das Amt des Ācārya einsetzen; andernfalls geschehe es nur gemäß der Eignung dieses Schülers für jene Yoga‑Disziplin.“

Word by Word

• उपमन्युः: Upamanyu
• उपमन्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/then)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• संस्कृतम्: purified/initiated
• संस्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्कृत (कृदन्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle) √कृ; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; शिष्यं विशेषयति

• शिष्यम्: disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत-पाशुपत-व्रतम्: one who has undertaken the Pāśupata vow
• कृत-पाशुपत-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त) + पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; 'पाशुपतव्रतं कृतं यस्य' इति; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिष्यं विशेषयति

• आचार्यत्वे: in the state/office of teacherhood
• आचार्यत्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अभिषिञ्चेत: should consecrate/anoint
• अभिषिञ्चेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-षिच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्-योगत्वेन: by/through that suitability/connection
• तत्-योगत्वेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + योगत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भावे/हेतौ (as/through the condition of being connected with that)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारान्तर/विपरीतार्थ (otherwise)

Speaker

Upamanyu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes adhikāra (spiritual qualification): only a disciple purified by discipline and the Pāśupata observance should be empowered as an ācārya, reflecting Shaiva Siddhanta’s insistence on right preparation before transmitting liberating knowledge and practice.

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

The Pāśupata path is a Shiva-centered (Saguna) discipline grounded in devotion and regulated practice; the verse safeguards correct transmission of Shiva-worship and mantra/ritual knowledge by requiring proper consecration and fitness before one leads others.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to formal Shaiva initiation/authorization (abhiṣeka for ācārya-status) after completing Pāśupata-vrata; practically, it implies disciplined vow-based practice under a guru, with empowerment granted only when the disciple is demonstrably fit.