Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 173

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

शैवाः सिद्धांतमार्गस्थाः शैवाः पाशुपतास्तथा । शैवा महाव्रतधराः शैवाः कापालिकाः परे

Transliteration

śaivāḥ siddhāṃtamārgasthāḥ śaivāḥ pāśupatāstathā | śaivā mahāvratadharāḥ śaivāḥ kāpālikāḥ pare

Translation

Einige sind Śaivas, die im Pfad des Siddhānta gegründet sind; andere sind ebenso Pāśupatas. Manche Śaivas halten das Große Gelübde (Mahāvrata), und wieder andere sind Kāpālikas—so gibt es vielerlei Arten von Śivas Verehrern und ihren Übungswegen.

Word by Word

• शैवाः: Śaivas
• शैवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; शिवभक्त-सम्प्रदाय

• सिद्धान्तमार्गस्थाः: standing in the path of Siddhānta
• सिद्धान्तमार्गस्थाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्धान्त-मार्ग-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण ‘शैवाः’; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: सिद्धान्तस्य मार्गः (षष्ठी) + तस्मिन् स्थाः (locative sense)

• शैवाः: Śaivas
• शैवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पाशुपताः: Pāśupatas
• पाशुपताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; पाशुपत-सम्प्रदाय

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (likewise)

• शैवाः: Śaivas
• शैवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• महाव्रतधराः: bearers of the great vow
• महाव्रतधराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाव्रत-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: महत् व्रतम् (कर्मधारय-भाव) + धर (धारयति इति)

• शैवाः: Śaivas
• शैवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• कापालिकाः: Kāpālikas
• कापालिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कापालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कापालिक-सम्प्रदाय

• परे: others
• परे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (others)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that devotion to Pati (Śiva) appears through multiple Shaiva disciplines—Siddhānta, Pāśupata, Mahāvrata, and others—yet all aim at Śiva’s grace and liberation from pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (bound soul).

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

By acknowledging diverse Shaiva paths, the verse implies that Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā with mantra, bhasma, and vrata—can be approached through different lineages, while Siddhānta emphasizes pure devotion, right conduct, and Śiva’s anugraha (grace) as central.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to disciplined Shaiva observance (vrata) and regulated practice: Mahāvrata-style austerity, and Siddhānta-style worship with mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī), along with traditional Shaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supportive disciplines.