Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

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

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

रक्तचंदनतोयेन हस्तमात्रेण मंडलम् । सुवृत्तं कल्पयेद्भूमौ रक्तचूर्णाद्यलंकृतम्

Transliteration

raktacaṃdanatoyena hastamātreṇa maṃḍalam | suvṛttaṃ kalpayedbhūmau raktacūrṇādyalaṃkṛtam

Translation

Mit Wasser, das mit rotem Sandelholz vermischt ist, zeichne man auf dem Boden ein kreisrundes Maṇḍala von einer Handspanne, vollkommen rund, und schmücke es mit rotem Pulver und dergleichen.

Word by Word

• रक्तचन्दनतोयेन: with red-sandal water
• रक्तचन्दनतोयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त-चन्दन-तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—रक्तचन्दनस्य तोयम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• हस्तमात्रेण: by (a measure of) one hand-span
• हस्तमात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—हस्तस्य मात्रम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• मण्डलम्: a circle/mandala
• मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• सुवृत्तम्: well-rounded
• सुवृत्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् मण्डलम् प्रति; समासः—सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वृत्त (कर्मधारय)

• कल्पयेत्: should form/arrange
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• रक्तचूर्णादि-अलङ्कृतम्: adorned with red powder etc.
• रक्तचूर्णादि-अलङ्कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-चूर्ण-आदि + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त; अलङ्कृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् मण्डलम् प्रति; समासः—रक्तचूर्णादिभिः अलङ्कृतम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General pūjā-vidhi: constructing a maṇḍala as a bounded sacred field (kṣetra) for invoking and stabilizing divine presence before the main offering.

Significance: Teaches correct preparation of the worship-space; purity and precision in maṇḍala-making are said to stabilize mind and rite, aiding siddhi of worship.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śuddhi (purification) and saṃskāra (sacred ordering) of the worship-space: by forming a precise maṇḍala and adorning it, the devotee steadies the mind and prepares a fit locus for Saguna Shiva worship, supporting inward concentration that leads toward grace (anugraha).

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

A maṇḍala on the ground functions as the consecrated base for placing and honoring the Liṅga or the seat of worship; the red sandalwood water and red powders are offerings of auspiciousness, helping the devotee approach Shiva with reverence, order, and devotional focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a preparatory pūjā-vidhi: draw a hand-span, perfectly round maṇḍala using red-sandalwood water and decorate it with red powder; then proceed with Shiva worship (often alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, as appropriate to the larger rite).