Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

स्कन्दविघ्नेशयोर्मध्ये यजेद्देवीं सरस्वतीम् । ज्येष्ठाकुमारयोर्मध्ये श्रियं शिवपदार्चिताम्

Transliteration

skandavighneśayormadhye yajeddevīṃ sarasvatīm | jyeṣṭhākumārayormadhye śriyaṃ śivapadārcitām

Translation

Zwischen Skanda und Vighneśa verehre man die Göttin Sarasvatī; und zwischen dem Älteren und dem Jüngeren (der Söhne) verehre man Śrī (Lakṣmī), deren Füße von Herrn Śiva selbst angebetet werden.

Word by Word

• स्कन्द-विघ्नेशयोः: of Skanda and Vighneśa
• स्कन्द-विघ्नेशयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + विघ्नेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva)

• मध्ये: in the middle/between
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सरस्वतीम्: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; देवी-विशेषनाम

• ज्येष्ठ-कुमारयोः: of Jyeṣṭha and Kumāra
• ज्येष्ठ-कुमारयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva)

• मध्ये: in the middle/between
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• श्रियम्: Śrī (prosperity/goddess)
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शिव-पद-अर्चिताम्: worshipped at Śiva’s feet
• शिव-पद-अर्चिताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय; √अर्च् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः: ‘शिवस्य पदे’ इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it prescribes intermediary placements: Sarasvatī between Skanda and Gaṇeśa, and Śrī between the elder and younger—integrating vidyā (Sarasvatī) and śrī (auspicious prosperity) into Śaiva āvaraṇa worship.

Significance: Frames Śiva worship as complete: wisdom (Sarasvatī) and auspicious flourishing (Śrī) are harmonized under Śiva’s lordship (‘Śiva’s feet are worshipped by Śrī’), supporting both worldly steadiness and liberation-oriented practice.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sarasvati
• Lakshmi
• Ganesha
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-bhakti harmonizes all auspicious powers: wisdom (Sarasvatī) and prosperity (Śrī/Lakṣmī) are to be honored in a way that remains rooted in reverence for Śiva, the supreme Pati.

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

In Saguna worship, deities are approached as Śiva’s śaktis and attendants within an ordered devotional framework; even when honoring Sarasvatī and Śrī, the verse explicitly frames Śrī as ‘worshipped at Śiva’s feet,’ keeping Śiva as the central refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a practical puja-arrangement and devotional focus: worship Sarasvatī for right knowledge and Śrī for auspiciousness, while maintaining Śiva as the primary object of surrender—ideally alongside Shaiva markers like japa of the Panchakshara and Tripuṇḍra (where customary).