Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

आधायाग्निं विधानेन संस्कृत्य च ततः परम् । तत्राराध्य महादेवं होमकर्म समाचरेत्

Transliteration

ādhāyāgniṃ vidhānena saṃskṛtya ca tataḥ param | tatrārādhya mahādevaṃ homakarma samācaret

Translation

Nachdem man das heilige Feuer nach der Vorschrift entzündet und es sodann ordnungsgemäß geweiht hat, soll man dort Mahādeva verehren und das Homa, das Feueropfer, vollziehen.

Word by Word

• आधाय: having established
• आधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘आधाय’ = having placed/established

• अग्निम्: the fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• विधानेन: according to the prescribed method
• विधानेन: Karana (करण/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/Instrumental), एकवचन

• संस्कृत्य: having prepared (ritually)
• संस्कृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having purified/prepared’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थे/क्रमे (then/from that)

• परम्: next/after that
• परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative); ‘afterwards/next’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having worshipped/propitiated’

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• होमकर्म: the act of oblation (homa)
• होमकर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (होमस्य कर्म)

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Vidhi-kriya (विधिक्रिया/Prescriptive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Homa offered after proper saṃskāra of agni is framed as a grace-seeking act: the bound soul approaches Mahādeva through purified means and ordered action.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-worship is to be approached with purity and right method: first sanctify the means (agni and the ritual space), then offer devotion and oblations, aligning outer action with inner reverence toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Homa here is a Saguna mode of worship—approaching Mahādeva through a consecrated medium (fire) and prescribed offerings—supporting Linga-centered devotion by emphasizing proper preparation (saṃskāra) and formal ārādhana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a Śaiva homa after establishing and consecrating the fire; while offering oblations, maintain Shiva-bhakti and, where appropriate, accompany the rite with Śiva-mantra japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).