Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

पुष्पैः संपूजनं कुर्यान्नत्वा सर्वान्यथाक्रमम् । गर्भावरणमेवापि यजेत्स्वावरणेन वा

Transliteration

puṣpaiḥ saṃpūjanaṃ kuryānnatvā sarvānyathākramam | garbhāvaraṇamevāpi yajetsvāvaraṇena vā

Translation

Nachdem man sich vor allen der Reihe nach verneigt hat, vollziehe man die vollständige Verehrung mit Blumen. Auch das innere Heiligtum (garbha) und seine umgebenden Kreise soll man verehren—entweder zusammen mit den jeweiligen āvaraṇa (Gefolgen) oder gemäß der für einen selbst vorgeschriebenen Ordnung.

Word by Word

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• सम्-पूजनम्: complete worship
• सम्-पूजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्+पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; should do/perform

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); having bowed

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural (object of 'bowed to')

• यथा-क्रमम्: in due order
• यथा-क्रमम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial)

• गर्भ-आवरणम्: the inner (womb) enclosure
• गर्भ-आवरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; तत्पुरुष: गर्भस्य आवरणम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; should worship/sacrifice

• स्व-आवरणेन: with one's own enclosure (arrangement)
• स्व-आवरणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य आवरणम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed Shaiva worship method to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General injunction for āvaraṇa-krama: worship proceeds from outer attendants to the garbha (inner sanctum), reflecting graded approach to the Lord through his śakti/gaṇa retinues.

Significance: Teaches proper pūjā order (yathākramam), considered essential for ritual completeness (saṃpūjana) and for avoiding doṣa in worship; supports receiving Śiva’s favor.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion must be joined with order and reverence: by bowing and worshipping in sequence, the aspirant aligns outer ritual with inner discipline, honoring Pati (Shiva) together with the supporting śakti and attendants that uphold the sacred field of worship.

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

The verse reflects temple-style Linga worship where Saguna Shiva is approached through a structured pūjā—first honoring the associated deities/guardians (āvaraṇas), then focusing on the garbha (inner sanctum), so the mind becomes steady before the central emblem of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform flower-offering (puṣpārcana) with namaskāra in proper sequence, including āvaraṇa-pūjā around the sanctum; as a meditative takeaway, keep the mind moving from the periphery to the center—ending in one-pointed attention on Shiva.