Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

तदादावेव कलशान्कल्पयेदध्वशुद्धिवत् । कृत्वा समयसंस्कारमभिषेकं विनाखिलम्

Transliteration

tadādāveva kalaśānkalpayedadhvaśuddhivat | kṛtvā samayasaṃskāramabhiṣekaṃ vinākhilam

Translation

Gleich zu Beginn soll man die Kalaśas, die Gefäße mit geweihtem Wasser, nach der Vorschrift der Adhva-Śuddhi, der Reinigung des rituellen Pfades, bereitstellen. Nachdem der Samaya-Saṃskāra, der Ritus der Initiation und des heiligen Gelübdes, vollzogen ist, soll man sodann den vollständigen Abhiṣeka, die weihende Besprengung/Abwaschung, ohne Auslassung durchführen.

Word by Word

• तत्: in that (case)
• तत्: Deśa/Kāla-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) used adverbially with ‘आदौ’: ‘in that (context)’

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) used adverbially: ‘at the beginning’

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय)

• कलशान्: pots/vessels
• कलशान्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); object of ‘कल्पयेत्’

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• कल्पयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप्/कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• अध्वशुद्धिवत्: as in the adhva-purification (rite)
• अध्वशुद्धिवत्: Upamā (उपमा/standard of comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अध्व-शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; अध्व + शुद्धि) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: Comparative adverb (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययवत् प्रयोग): ‘like/according to the adhva-purification’

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (कृत्: त्वा), indeclinable; prior action: ‘having done’

• समयसंस्कारम्: the samaya-rite (pledge/observance consecration)
• समयसंस्कारम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय-संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक; समय + संस्कार)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of ‘कृत्वा’

• अभिषेकम्: consecration/ablution
• अभिषेकम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object understood with an ellipted verb (e.g., ‘कुर्यात्/करोतु’) or governed by context

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; exclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (उपपद-अव्यय): ‘without’; governs accusative

• अखिलम्: everything/entirely
• अखिलम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘विना’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); with ellipted noun (e.g., ‘(कर्म)’) or as object with ‘विना’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship becomes spiritually effective when performed with purity and proper order—first purification (adhva-śuddhi), then disciplined commitment (samaya-saṃskāra), and finally complete abhiṣeka—so the devotee aligns action, mantra, and intention toward Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse is a direct procedural instruction for Liṅga-upāsanā: preparing kalaśas and performing abhiṣeka as an outward (saguṇa) rite that supports inner purification and devotion, making the worship a vehicle for Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare the abhiṣeka kalaśas according to purification rules, observe samaya (vowed discipline/initiatory observance), and then perform a full abhiṣeka without skipping steps—ideally accompanied by Shiva-mantra japa such as the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").