Shloka 16

गजाननपूजा तथा औपासन-होमविधिः

Worship of Gajānana and the Procedure of Aupāsana-Homa

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणं सचतुर्थ्यन्तं स्वाहांतान्प्रणवा दिकान् । संजप्य वाचयित्वाऽथ पुण्याहं च ततः परम्

Transliteration

brahmāṇaṃ sacaturthyantaṃ svāhāṃtānpraṇavā dikān | saṃjapya vācayitvā'tha puṇyāhaṃ ca tataḥ param

Translation

Having duly repeated the Brahmā-mantra ending in the fourth case (dative), along with the syllables beginning with Praṇava (Oṃ) and concluding with “svāhā,” he should cause them to be recited as well; thereafter, he should have the auspicious “puṇyāha” proclamation performed.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणम्: the Brahman-formula / ‘brahman’ (mantra)
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter)

• स-चतुर्थी-अन्तम्: ending in the dative (4th case), along with (it)
• स-चतुर्थी-अन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चतुर्थ्यन्तम् = चतुर्थी-विभक्त्यन्तम्), ‘स’ = ‘सहित/युक्त’

• स्वाहा-अन्तान्: ending with ‘svāhā’
• स्वाहा-अन्तान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वाहा (अव्यय/मन्त्रशब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वाहान्त = ‘ending with svāhā’)

• प्रणव-आदिकान्: beginning with the praṇava (Om), etc.
• प्रणव-आदिकान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रणवादिक = ‘beginning with praṇava/Om’)

• संजप्य: having recited (muttered)
• संजप्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु) + सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having muttered/recited well’

• वाचयित्वा: having had (it) recited / having made (someone) recite
• वाचयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) (णिच् causative: वाचय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); causative; ‘having caused to be recited/read’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• पुण्याहम्: the ‘puṇyāha’ rite/benediction (auspicious proclamation)
• पुण्याहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (पुण्यः अहः = auspicious day/benediction ‘puṇyāha’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Apadana/Desha-Kala (अपादान/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘from that/thereafter’

• परम्: next; further
• परम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे/क्रियाविशेषणरूपे नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचनवत्; adverbial ‘further/next’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-Purana ritual procedure to the sages, within the Kailasa Samhita’s discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ritual grammar: mantras framed by praṇava (Oṃ) and svāhā, plus the puṇyāha proclamation. No Jyotirliṅga narrative is present.

Significance: Puṇyāha functions as śuddhi (purificatory) and saṅkalpa-confirmation; in Siddhānta terms it helps loosen pāśa (impurity/obstruction) so kriyā can become fit for anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ … svāhā (framing indicated); vyāhṛti/gāyatrī complex implied by ‘praṇavādikān’ and homa context; puṇyāha-vācana follows.

Type: gayatri

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship begins with śuddhi (purification) and śubha-saṅkalpa (auspicious intent): mantra-japa, proper recitation, and the puṇyāha rite establish inner and outer fitness so devotion becomes a clear channel toward Śiva (Pati) in the Shaiva Siddhanta sense.

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

Before approaching the Śiva-liṅga as Saguna Śiva in formal pūjā, the practitioner sanctifies the space and mind through Praṇava-based mantras and puṇyāha—preliminaries that guard the worship from impurity and make the offering ‘fit’ (yogya) for the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform japa of Praṇava-linked mantras ending with ‘svāhā,’ have them properly recited by an officiant if needed, and then conduct the puṇyāha (auspicious purification) before commencing Shiva pūjā.