Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

शिवायाश्च सखीवर्गं जपेद्ध्यात्वा समाहितः । एवं तृतीयावरणे वितते पूजिते सति

Transliteration

śivāyāśca sakhīvargaṃ japeddhyātvā samāhitaḥ | evaṃ tṛtīyāvaraṇe vitate pūjite sati

Translation

Mit gesammelt-ruhigem Geist, in Meditation, soll man (die Namen/Mantras) des Kreises der Gefährtinnen Śivās (Pārvatī) rezitieren. So, wenn der dritte Āvaraṇa der Verehrung ordnungsgemäß ausgebreitet und verehrt ist, schreitet das Ritual auf diese Weise fort.

Word by Word

• शिवायाः: of Śivā (the Goddess)
• शिवायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

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

• सखी-वर्गम्: the group of (her) female companions
• सखी-वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जपेत्: should recite (japa)
• जपेत्: Vidhi-kriyā (विधि-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• समाहितः: composed, concentrated
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्-आ-√धा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); विशेषण (of the worshipper)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• तृतीय-आवरणे: in the third enclosure
• तृतीय-आवरणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वितते: when it is spread/arranged
• वितते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वितत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि-√तन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (qualifies आवरणे)

• पूजिते: when it is worshipped
• पूजिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (qualifies आवरणे)

• सति: when/while (it) is (so)
• सति: Locative absolute (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is not merely external ritual: japa must be joined with dhyāna and samādhāna (collectedness). By honoring Śivā (Śakti) along with her retinue, the sādhaka approaches Śiva through the complete Shiva–Shakti reality, a key Shaiva understanding for purification and grace.

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

Avaraṇa-pūjā is a structured Saguna method: the devotee worships the central deity (often the Liṅga/Śiva) together with associated powers and attendants. Here, the third enclosure emphasizes Śivā’s aspect—showing that Liṅga worship is complemented by reverence to Śakti and her circles as part of a complete pūjā sequence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform japa while simultaneously meditating, maintaining a steady, composed mind; specifically, recite the names/mantras of Śivā’s sakhīs as part of the third āvaraṇa in the maṇḍala/enclosure worship. This implies disciplined mantra-japa supported by dhyāna (rather than mechanical repetition).