Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

पाद्यमाचमनं चार्घ्यं गंधं पुष्पं च भूषणम् । धूपं दीपं च नैवेद्यं पानीयं मुखशोधनम्

Transliteration

pādyamācamanaṃ cārghyaṃ gaṃdhaṃ puṣpaṃ ca bhūṣaṇam | dhūpaṃ dīpaṃ ca naivedyaṃ pānīyaṃ mukhaśodhanam

Translation

Man soll (Śiva) Wasser zum Waschen der Füße, Ācamanīya-Wasser und Arghya darbringen; den Duft von Sandelpaste, Blumen und Schmuck; Räucherwerk und Lampe; Naivedya (Speiseopfer), Trinkwasser und Wasser zum Spülen des Mundes—so wird die rechte Abfolge der Verehrung vollendet.

Word by Word

• पाद्यम्: water for washing the feet
• पाद्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• आचमनम्: sipping water (ritual)
• आचमनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya-offering (water for worship)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गन्धम्: fragrance; sandal paste
• गन्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुष्पम्: flower
• पुष्पम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• भूषणम्: ornament
• भूषणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धूपम्: incense
• धूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीपम्: lamp
• दीपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• नैवेद्यम्: food offering
• नैवेद्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पानीयम्: drinking water
• पानीयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पानीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुख-शोधनम्: mouth-cleansing (rinse)
• मुख-शोधनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + शोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मुखस्य शोधनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Enumerates core upacāras (pādya to mukhaśodhana) that structure temple and home worship; performing them with bhakti is held to purify the paśu and dispose it toward Śiva’s grace.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It enumerates the standard upacāras (devotional services) that train the devotee in purity, humility, and loving attention—offering body, senses, and mind to Pati (Śiva), thereby loosening the bonds (pāśa) through bhakti.

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

These offerings are the classical sequence used in Linga-pūjā to honor Saguna Śiva as the accessible form of the Supreme; through such reverent service, the devotee approaches the Nirguna truth that the Linga signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a simple Shiva puja with these upacāras in order—especially dhūpa, dīpa, and naivedya—while maintaining one-pointed remembrance of Śiva and, where appropriate, mentally reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”