Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

क्षिपेदाचमनीये च चूर्णयित्वा विशेषतः । एलां पात्रेषु सर्वेषु कर्पूरं चन्दनं तथा

Transliteration

kṣipedācamanīye ca cūrṇayitvā viśeṣataḥ | elāṃ pātreṣu sarveṣu karpūraṃ candanaṃ tathā

Translation

Nachdem man sie besonders sorgfältig zu feinem Pulver zerstoßen hat, lege man sie in das für das Ācamana bestimmte Gefäß; und in alle Ritualgefäße gebe man auch Kardamom, Kampfer und Sandelholz.

Word by Word

• kṣipet: should throw/place
• kṣipet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Dhātu: क्षिप्; Lakāra: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative); Puruṣa: 3rd (प्रथमपुरुष); Vacana: Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ācamanīye: in/into the vessel for sipping (ācamanīya)
• ācamanīye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācamanīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग); Locative (7th/सप्तमी); Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• cūrṇayitvā: having powdered
• cūrṇayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cūrṇay (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त); ‘having powdered’; from causative/denominative verb cūrṇayati (चूर्णयति)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• elām: cardamom
• elām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: elā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग); Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया); Singular (एकवचन)

• pātreṣu: in the vessels
• pātreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग); Locative (7th/सप्तमी); Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarveṣu: in all
• sarveṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग); Locative (7th/सप्तमी); Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying pātreṣu

• karpūram: camphor
• karpūram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karpūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग); Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया); Singular (एकवचन)

• candanaṃ: sandalwood
• candanaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग); Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया); Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (तुल्यताबोधक/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights careful preparation (cūrṇayitvā viśeṣataḥ) as a discipline of attention; in Siddhānta, such disciplined kriyā purifies the paśu’s antaḥkaraṇa, making it fit for Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purity supports inner purity: careful preparation of ācamana and other vessels cultivates sattva, steadiness, and reverence—qualities that make devotion to Pati (Shiva) effective for loosening pāśa (bondage).

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

These fragrant substances are part of upacāra offered in Saguna worship—refining the worshipper’s mind and senses so they can approach the Linga with focused bhakti and ritual cleanliness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare ācamana water and puja vessels with purified, fragrant powders (cardamom, camphor, sandalwood), then perform ācamana and worship with a calm mind—supporting japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during puja.