Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī Vrata: Monthly Śiva-Names

Devanagari script

स्थाणुं चैत्रे शिवं तद्वद् वैशाखे त्वर्चयेन्नरः ज्येष्ठे पशुपतिं चार्चेद् आषाढे उग्रमर्चयेत् //

Transliteration

sthāṇuṃ caitre śivaṃ tadvad vaiśākhe tvarcayennaraḥ jyeṣṭhe paśupatiṃ cārced āṣāḍhe ugramarcayet //

Translation

In the month of Caitra, a man should worship Śiva as Sthāṇu; likewise in Vaiśākha he should worship him as Śiva. In Jyeṣṭha he should worship Paśupati, and in Āṣāḍha he should worship him as Ugra.

Word by Word

• स्थाणुम् (sthāṇum): Sthāṇu, the Immovable Lord (a name of Śiva)

• चैत्रे (caitre): in the month of Caitra

• शिवम् (śivam): Śiva, the Auspicious One

• तद्वत् (tadvad): likewise, in the same manner

• वैशाखे (vaiśākhe): in the month of Vaiśākha

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• अर्चयेत् (arcayet): should worship

• नरः (naraḥ): a man, worshipper

• ज्येष्ठे (jyeṣṭhe): in the month of Jyeṣṭha

• पशुपतिम् (paśupatim): Paśupati, Lord of beings

• च (ca): and

• आर्चेत् (ārced): should worship (optative)

• आषाढे (āṣāḍhe): in the month of Āṣāḍha

• उग्रम् (ugram): Ugra, the Fierce One

• अर्चयेत् (arcayet): should worship.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Sthanu
• Pashupati
• Ugra
• Caitra
• Vaishakha
• Jyeshtha
• Ashadha

Tags

• Vrata
• Shiva-worship
• Monthly-ritual
• Nama-upasana
• Dharma

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a ritual calendar—worshipping Śiva under specific epithets in specific lunar months.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It frames monthly devotional discipline (vrata/anuṣṭhāna) as a dharmic duty: the worshipper maintains regular observance by honoring Śiva through appropriate names aligned with the ritual calendar.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it teaches nāma-upāsanā (worship by epithets) and month-wise scheduling of pūjā; it implies selecting the deity’s invoked form/name (Sthāṇu, Śiva, Paśupati, Ugra) according to the month.