Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

पुनः सम्पूज्य देवेशं प्रणम्य भुवि दंडवत् । शिरस्यंजलिमाधाय शिवं विज्ञापयेद्गुरुः

Transliteration

punaḥ sampūjya deveśaṃ praṇamya bhuvi daṃḍavat | śirasyaṃjalimādhāya śivaṃ vijñāpayedguruḥ

Translation

Nachdem er den Herrn der Götter erneut ordnungsgemäß verehrt und sich auf der Erde wie ein Stab niedergeworfen hat, soll der Guru—die gefalteten Hände auf das Haupt gelegt—dem Śiva demütig sein Anliegen vortragen.

Word by Word

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय)

• sampūjya: having duly worshipped
• sampūjya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√pūj (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), indeclinable verbal form; prior action to main verb

• deveśam: the Lord of gods
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यपन्त), indeclinable; sequential action

• bhuvi: on the ground
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular

• daṇḍavat: like a staff; prostrate
• daṇḍavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daṇḍavat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निपातवत्)
• Form: Adverbial indeclinable meaning manner (रीतिवाचक अव्यय)

• śirasi: on the head
• śirasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; first member in compound

• añjalim: folded hands (añjali)
• añjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of ādhāya

• ādhāya: having placed
• ādhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dhā (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यपन्त), indeclinable; ‘having placed’

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of vijñāpayet

• vijñāpayet: should inform/request
• vijñāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñap (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• guruḥ: the guru
• guruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta ethic of approaching Pati (Śiva) through reverent surrender—pujā followed by complete prostration and humble supplication—showing that grace is sought through devotion and disciplined humility.

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

The verse outlines the devotee’s proper bodily and mental posture after formal worship—commonly performed before the Śiva-liṅga—where Saguna worship (ritual honor to the Lord) culminates in inner surrender and prayer directed to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a standard pūjā sequence: complete worship, then daṇḍavat-pranāma and añjali at the head, followed by a heartfelt petition—often accompanied by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as one requests Śiva’s grace.