Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

आधूपितानि पुष्पौघैर्वासितानि समंततः । चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरकाष्ठगुग्गुलुचूर्णिकैः

Transliteration

ādhūpitāni puṣpaughairvāsitāni samaṃtataḥ | candanāgurukarpūrakāṣṭhaguggulucūrṇikaiḥ

Translation

Sie wurden geräuchert und ringsum reichlich beduftet mit Haufen von Blumen sowie mit Pulvern aus Sandelholz, Agaru, Kampferholz und Guggulu — duftenden Gaben, würdig der Verehrung des glückverheißenden Herrn Śiva.

Word by Word

• आधूपितानि: fumigated/incensed
• आधूपितानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + धूप् (धातु) → आधूपित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त/क्तवतु-प्रत्ययार्थः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पुष्प-ओघैः: with masses of flowers
• पुष्प-ओघैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पाणाम् ओघः)

• वासितानि: perfumed/scented
• वासितानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वास् (धातु) → वासित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• समन्ततः: on all sides, everywhere
• समन्ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चन्दन-अगुरु-कर्पूर-काष्ठ-गुग्गुलु-चूर्णिकैः: with powders of sandalwood, aloe, camphor, wood, and guggulu
• चन्दन-अगुरु-कर्पूर-काष्ठ-गुग्गुलु-चूर्णिकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + गुग्गुलु (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्णिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (copulative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes inner and outer purity in Śiva-bhakti: creating a sanctified, fragrant space symbolizes refining the senses and offering them to Pati (Śiva), loosening the bonds (pāśa) that tie the soul (paśu) to impurity.

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

These fragrances and flowers are classic upacāras (ritual services) for Saguna worship—honoring the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible form through which devotion becomes steady and contemplative, leading the mind toward the formless reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare the shrine with incense/fumigation and offer flowers and fragrances (sandal, agaru, camphor, guggulu) while mentally dedicating the senses to Śiva; accompany the offering with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”