Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35

पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra

Devanagari script

आदाय चाष्टपुष्पाणि पूजामथ समापयेत्

Transliteration

ādāya cāṣṭapuṣpāṇi pūjāmatha samāpayet

Translation

Nimm acht Blumen und vollende sodann die Verehrung in rechter Weise, indem du sie in Hingabe als abschließende Handlung der Pūjā dem Herrn Śiva darbringst.

Word by Word

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having taken’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अष्ट-पुष्पाणि: eight flowers
• अष्ट-पुष्पाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः: अष्ट संख्या यस्य (eight flowers)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Anukrama (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/आरम्भवाचक अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• समापयेत्: should conclude/complete
• समापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आप् (धातु) → समापय् (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative): ‘should complete/bring to an end’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The final floral offering (puṣpāñjali) signifies offering of the heart-mind (antaḥkaraṇa) to Śiva, a closing act that seeks auspicious completion (pūrṇatā) and grace.

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 worship is not only initiation but also right completion—closing the act of devotion with a deliberate offering, so the mind rests in reverence toward Pati (Śiva), the Lord who grants grace and liberation.

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

The instruction fits Saguna Śiva-upāsanā, where the Liṅga is honored through concrete offerings; the final offering of flowers functions as a formal completion (pūjā-samāpti) sealing the devotee’s intention and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Conclude the pūjā by offering eight flowers with focused bhakti—ideally while remembering Śiva and (where practiced) softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī, aligning the mind with the worship’s final intention.