Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

तदाधाराणि १ सर्वाणि सौवर्णान्येव साधयेत् । आलयं च महेशस्य शिवस्य परमात्मनः

Transliteration

tadādhārāṇi 1 sarvāṇi sauvarṇānyeva sādhayet | ālayaṃ ca maheśasya śivasya paramātmanaḥ

Translation

Man sollte alle seine Stützpfeiler vollständig aus Gold fertigen und auch das Heiligtum – die Wohnstätte von Mahesa, Shiva, dem Höchsten Selbst – vorbereiten.

Word by Word

• tat-ādhārāṇi: those supports/bases
• tat-ādhārāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• sarvāṇi: all
• sarvāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण

• sauvarṇāni: made of gold
• sauvarṇāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sauvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• sādhayet: should make/construct, should accomplish
• sādhayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sādh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ālayaṃ: abode, temple
• ālayaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• maheśasya: of Maheśa
• maheśasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• paramātmanaḥ: of the Supreme Self
• paramātmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishing and maintaining Śiva’s ālaya (sanctum) as ‘Paramātman’ is treated as a high-merit act (puṇya) that supports bhakti and becomes an occasion for Śiva’s anugraha (grace) upon the paśu (bound soul).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahesha

FAQs

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

It teaches that the outer construction offered to Śiva should reflect inner purity and reverence—honoring Him not merely as a deity-image but as Paramātman, the Supreme Self, approached through devoted service (seva) and sanctified space.

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

By emphasizing the ‘supports’ and the ‘abode’ of Maheśa, it points to proper installation and temple-centered worship of Saguna Śiva (Śiva accessible through form), where the Linga’s setting is treated as a sacred locus for grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is careful preparation for Linga installation and consecration—creating a clean, dedicated sanctum and worthy pedestal/supports, accompanied by devotional worship such as mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during the setup.