Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

सर्वासनोपरि सुखं विचित्रास्तरणास्तृतम् । आसनं कल्पयेद्दिव्यं शुद्धविद्यासमुज्ज्वलम्

Transliteration

sarvāsanopari sukhaṃ vicitrāstaraṇāstṛtam | āsanaṃ kalpayeddivyaṃ śuddhavidyāsamujjvalam

Translation

Über allen anderen Sitzen richte man einen bequemen, göttlichen Sitz her, ausgebreitet mit einer schön gemusterten Decke—leuchtend von reiner Vidyā—zur Verehrung und Betrachtung Śivas.

Word by Word

• सर्वासनोपरि: above all seats
• सर्वासनोपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वासन + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• सुखम्: comfortable; pleasant
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) आसनम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• विचित्रास्तरणास्तृतम्: spread/covered with a variegated covering
• विचित्रास्तरणास्तृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र + आस्तरण + स्तृ (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘स्तृत’ from √स्तृ (to spread), with instrument/means implied; विशेषण आसनम्

• आसनम्: a seat
• आसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण आसनम्

• शुद्धविद्यासमुज्ज्वलम्: resplendent with pure knowledge
• शुद्धविद्यासमुज्ज्वलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्धविद्या + समुज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण आसनम्; ‘समुज्ज्वल’ = very bright

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer order supports inner purity: a carefully prepared āsana symbolizes śuddha-vidyā (pure spiritual knowledge) and steadiness of mind, making worship and meditation fit for reaching Pati (Śiva).

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

In Saguna worship (such as Liṅga-pūjā), the devotee prepares a sanctified space and seat as part of upacāras; the ‘divine seat’ reflects reverence and invites focused contemplation of Śiva’s presence in the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean, comfortable āsana with a proper cloth and sit steadily for japa and dhyāna—ideally with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the core practice.