Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 62

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

परिकल्प्य यथान्यायं शिवयोः परमासनम् । तत्र सावरणं वापि निरावरणमेव वा

Transliteration

parikalpya yathānyāyaṃ śivayoḥ paramāsanam | tatra sāvaraṇaṃ vāpi nirāvaraṇameva vā

Translation

Nachdem man nach rechtem Ritus den höchsten Sitz für Śiva und die Göttin bereitet hat, kann man ihn dort entweder mit einer umgebenden Umfriedung errichten (in einer gestalteten, saguna-Anordnung) oder auch ganz ohne Umfriedung (in einer schlichten, ungehinderten Anordnung).

Word by Word

• parikalpya: having arranged
• parikalpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√kḷp (धातु) + -ya (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), from √kḷp (कॢप्) with prefix pari-, ‘having arranged/constructed’

• yathā-nyāyam: as per the proper rule
• yathā-nyāyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; indeclinable adverbial: ‘according to rule/propriety’

• śivayoḥ: of Śiva (the pair)
• śivayoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध; genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual; ‘of the two Śivas’ (Śiva and Śakti / the divine pair)

• parama-āsanam: the supreme seat
• parama-āsanam: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय ‘supreme seat’

• tatra: there/in it
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (तत्र)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• sa-āvaraṇam: with an enclosure
• sa-āvaraṇam: Karma (कर्म; object—option)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘with covering/enclosure’

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प; alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय; addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अपि)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’)

• nir-āvaraṇam: without an enclosure
• nir-āvaraṇam: Karma (कर्म; object—option)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘without covering/enclosure’

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (एव)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/अवधारण अव्यय)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प; alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship begins with inner and outer order (nyāya): preparing a worthy seat for Pati (Śiva) and Śakti (the Goddess), acknowledging that devotion can be expressed through either elaborate form-based arrangements or simple, uncluttered reverence.

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

The option of an enclosed/arranged setting supports saguna upāsanā—structured worship with defined ritual space around the Linga or the divine presence—while the option of no enclosure points to simplicity and inward focus, aligning with the contemplative spirit often associated with nirāvaraṇa (unobstructed) worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Create a clean, ritually appropriate worship space (āsana) for Śiva-Śakti; choose either a decorated, bounded altar area or a minimal setup, then proceed with mantra-centered devotion (e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) in a steady, unobstructed mind.