Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

ततो निवेद्य पानीयं तांबूलं चोपदंशकैः । नीराजनादिकं कृत्वा पूजाशेषं समापयेत्

Transliteration

tato nivedya pānīyaṃ tāṃbūlaṃ copadaṃśakaiḥ | nīrājanādikaṃ kṛtvā pūjāśeṣaṃ samāpayet

Translation

Daraufhin soll man Trinkwasser darbringen und ebenso Tāmbūla (Betel) mit passenden Beigaben. Nachdem man dann Nīrājana (Ārati) und die damit verbundenen Abschlussriten vollzogen hat, soll man die übrigen Handlungen der Verehrung vollenden.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• निवेद्य: having offered
• निवेद्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+विद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• पानीयम्: drinking water
• पानीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पानीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• ताम्बूलम्: betel (leaf preparation)
• ताम्बूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• उपदंशकैः: with side-dishes/snacks
• उपदंशकैः: Sahakāri/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपदंशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.)

• नीराजन-आदिकम्: waving of lights and the like
• नीराजन-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीराजन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); समासः तत्पुरुषः (nīrājanaṃ ca ādi ca—‘etc.’ sense)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• पूजा-शेषम्: the remainder/conclusion of the worship
• पूजा-शेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (pūjāyāḥ śeṣam)

• समापयेत्: should complete/finish
• समापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आप् (धातु) [समापयति]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Concluding upacāras (water, tāmbūla, nīrājana) mark completion and ‘sealing’ of worship; the devotee departs with prasāda-consciousness and inner steadiness.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Pati (Shiva) is expressed not only by beginning worship correctly but by completing it with mindful offerings and concluding rites, cultivating steadiness (niyama) and reverence—key virtues for purification and grace in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

The verse outlines the concluding upacāras of Saguna worship—offering water, tāmbūla, and performing nīrājana (ārati)—which honor Shiva’s accessible, worshipful presence in the Linga while directing the mind toward His supreme, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform the closing steps of Shiva pūjā: offer pānīya and tāmbūla with accompaniments, do ārati (nīrājana), and formally conclude the remaining pūjā; inwardly, maintain bhakti and remembrance of Shiva (often supported by japa of the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).