Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

स्वसूत्रोक्तविधानेन मंत्राचमनपूर्वकम् । आचरेद्ब्रह्मयज्ञांतं कृत्वा देवादितर्पणम्

Transliteration

svasūtroktavidhānena maṃtrācamanapūrvakam | ācaredbrahmayajñāṃtaṃ kṛtvā devāditarpaṇam

Translation

Gemäß der im eigenen Gṛhya-sūtra genannten Vorschrift und beginnend mit dem Ācamana—dem Schlürfen von Wasser unter Mantra—soll man das Brahma-yajña vollziehen. Danach soll man die Tarpaṇa-Darbietungen zur Befriedigung den Göttern und den anderen, wie den ṛṣi und den Ahnen, darbringen.

Word by Word

• स्वसूत्रोक्तविधानेन: by the procedure stated in one’s own sūtra
• स्वसूत्रोक्तविधानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-सूत्र-उक्त-विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (स्वस्य सूत्रे उक्तं विधानम् = rule stated in one’s own sūtra)

• मन्त्र: with mantra
• मन्त्र: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• आचमनपूर्वकम्: preceded by ācamana
• आचमनपूर्वकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचमन-पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आचमनं पूर्वं यस्य = preceded by sipping/ācamana)

• आचरेत्: should perform/practise
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मयज्ञान्तम्: up to/ending with the Brahma-yajña
• ब्रह्मयज्ञान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-यज्ञ-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मयज्ञस्य अन्तः/पर्यन्तम् = up to the Brahma-yajña / ending with it)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), “having done”

• देवादितर्पणम्: libations/oblations to the gods and others
• देवादितर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-आदि-तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवाः आदयः येषां तेषां तर्पणम् = offering of satisfaction to gods etc.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined daily observance—purifying oneself through mantra-ācamanam, honoring sacred knowledge via Brahma-yajña, and offering tarpaṇa—creates inner purity (śuddhi) and humility, preparing the devotee for Shiva-oriented contemplation and grace.

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

These preparatory rites steady the mind and sanctify the practitioner before entering Shiva worship; in Shaiva practice, such purification supports focused devotion to Saguna Shiva (including Linga-pūjā) while aligning one’s conduct with dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform mantra-ācamanam first, then complete Brahma-yajña (sacred recitation/study), and conclude with tarpaṇa offerings to devas and related recipients; this sequence functions as a daily purification and remembrance practice before Shiva sādhanā.