Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमः

Occasional Rites and Their Procedure

Devanagari script

निर्मितानुगुणाः कार्याः पुरश्चरणपूर्विकाः । शिवानले च विहते पुनस्सन्धानमाचरेत्

Transliteration

nirmitānuguṇāḥ kāryāḥ puraścaraṇapūrvikāḥ | śivānale ca vihate punassandhānamācaret

Translation

Die heiligen Handlungen sollen in Übereinstimmung mit dem, was ordnungsgemäß vorbereitet wurde, vollzogen werden und vom Puraścaraṇa — der disziplinierten Mantra-Praxis — eingeleitet sein. Und wenn das Śiva-Feuer, das geweihte Ritualfeuer, gestört wird oder erlischt, soll man erneut das Sandhāna, den Ritus der Wiedererrichtung, vollziehen.

Word by Word

• निर्मित-अनुगुणाः: suitable according to what is constructed
• निर्मित-अनुगुणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मित (कृदन्त, √मि/मा?; here past passive participle from √मा/√मि 'to measure/make' used in sense 'made') + अनुगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• कार्याः: to be done / should be performed
• कार्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative adjective)

• पुरश्चरण-पूर्विकाः: preceded by preparatory rites (puraścaraṇa)
• पुरश्चरण-पूर्विकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरश्चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• शिव-अनले: in the Śiva-fire (sacred fire for Śiva)
• शिव-अनले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location/context)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विहते: when (it is) disrupted/obstructed
• विहते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहत (कृदन्त; √हन् with vi-; past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with implied 'when/if it is disturbed'

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• सन्धानम्: rejoining / restoration / reconnection
• सन्धानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• आचरेत्: should perform/practise
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु) with आ- उपसर्ग
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights ritual continuity and correctness (kriyā) as stabilizing supports for the bound soul; re-establishing the Śiva-fire symbolizes restoring dharma and inner steadiness after disruption.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva-worship must be steady, disciplined, and properly ordered—outer ritual continuity mirrors inner steadiness of devotion and mantra-japa, which supports purification and readiness for Śiva’s grace.

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

In Saguna Śiva worship, consecrated supports like the Śiva-agni and prescribed procedures safeguard the sanctity of the rite; if the ritual support is broken, it must be restored so the worship remains ritually complete and effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to puraścaraṇa—structured mantra practice (japa with supporting disciplines)—and instructs sandhāna, the re-establishment of the consecrated Śiva-fire if it is interrupted.