Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 89

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

विष्णोर्निद्रामहामाया महामहिषमर्दिनी । निशंभशुंभसंहत्री मधुमांसासवप्रिया

Transliteration

viṣṇornidrāmahāmāyā mahāmahiṣamardinī | niśaṃbhaśuṃbhasaṃhatrī madhumāṃsāsavapriyā

Translation

Sie ist die große Māyā, die zum yogischen Schlaf Viṣṇus wird; die Mächtige, welche den großen Büffeldämon erschlägt; die Vernichterin von Niśumbha und Śumbha; und jene, die sich an Darbringungen von Honig, Fleisch und vergorenem Trank erfreut.

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• निद्रा-महा-माया: the great illusion in the form of (Viṣṇu’s) sleep
• निद्रा-महा-माया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महामाया) + षष्ठी-सम्बन्धार्थे ‘(विष्णोः) निद्रा-रूपा महामाया’

• महा-महिष-मर्दिनी: slayer of the great buffalo (demon)
• महा-महिष-मर्दिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + महिष (प्रातिपदिक) + मर्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘महामहिषस्य मर्दिनी’ (slayer/crusher of the great buffalo/demon)

• निशुम्भ-शुम्भ-संहत्री: destroyer of Niśumbha and Śumbha
• निशुम्भ-शुम्भ-संहत्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + संहत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (निशुम्भ-शुम्भ) + तत्पुरुषः ‘(निशुम्भशुम्भयोः) संहत्री’

• मधु-मांस-आसव-प्रिया: fond of honey, meat, and liquor
• मधु-मांस-आसव-प्रिया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + आसव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘मधु-मांस-आसवेषु प्रिया’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yoga-nidrā motif: cosmic suspension preceding/within creation cycles.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devi (Maya/Shakti)
• Nishumbha
• Shumbha
• Mahishasura

FAQs

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

It praises Devī as Mahāmāyā—the cosmic Śakti who veils and reveals reality—showing that divine power governs both preservation (Viṣṇu’s yoga-nidrā) and destruction of demonic forces, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta where Śiva (Pati) is never without Śakti in cosmic function.

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

By naming Devī’s manifest deeds (slaying demons, granting power, receiving offerings), the verse supports Saguna worship: devotees approach the Divine through form and attributes. In Shaiva practice, Linga worship is complemented by reverence to Śiva’s inseparable Śakti, recognizing one reality expressed as Śiva-Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is stuti (hymnic praise) and mantra-japa while contemplating Devī as Mahāmāyā. Offerings should follow one’s sampradāya and purity codes; Shaiva Siddhanta typically emphasizes sattvic upacāras, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and Panchākṣarī japa in devotion to Śiva with Śakti.