Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

एकहस्तं द्विहस्तं वा मण्डलं परिकल्पयेत् । आलिखेद्विमलं पद्ममष्टपत्रं सकर्णिकम्

Transliteration

ekahastaṃ dvihastaṃ vā maṇḍalaṃ parikalpayet | ālikhedvimalaṃ padmamaṣṭapatraṃ sakarṇikam

Translation

Man soll ein rituelles Maṇḍala von einer oder zwei Handspannen anlegen und darin einen makellosen Lotus mit acht Blättern und zentralem Fruchtknoten (karnikā) zeichnen.

Word by Word

• eka-hastam: one-hand (in measure)
• eka-hastam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; numeral compound (द्विगु) qualifying maṇḍalam

• dvi-hastam: two-hand (in measure)
• dvi-hastam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; numeral compound (द्विगु) qualifying maṇḍalam

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-अव्यय)

• maṇḍalam: a circle/diagram
• maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• parikalpayet: should arrange/construct
• parikalpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + kḷp (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• ālikhet: should draw
• ālikhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + likh (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• vimalam: pure/spotless
• vimalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying padmam

• padmam: lotus
• padmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• aṣṭa-patram: eight-petaled
• aṣṭa-patram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; numeral compound (द्विगु) qualifying padmam

• sa-karṇikam: with a pericarp (center)
• sa-karṇikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + karṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/सह-समास (with a pericarp) qualifying padmam

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship should begin with orderly, pure preparation: the mandala and eight-petalled lotus provide a sanctified inner-and-outer space where the mind becomes fit to contemplate Pati (Shiva) beyond impurity and bondage.

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

The lotus-mandala functions as a consecrated seat (āsana) and field for invoking Saguna Shiva—often as the Linga—so that form-based worship becomes a doorway to realizing Shiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Create a small mandala (one or two hand-spans) and draw an eight-petalled lotus with a central point; then perform puja or japa (commonly with the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with attention to cleanliness and steadiness of mind.