Shloka 3

गजाननपूजा तथा औपासन-होमविधिः

Worship of Gajānana and the Procedure of Aupāsana-Homa

Devanagari script

रक्तवर्णं महाकायं सर्व्वाभरणभूषितम् । पाशांकुशाक्षाभीष्टञ्च दधानं करपंकजैः

Transliteration

raktavarṇaṃ mahākāyaṃ sarvvābharaṇabhūṣitam | pāśāṃkuśākṣābhīṣṭañca dadhānaṃ karapaṃkajaiḥ

Translation

He was red-hued, of immense form, adorned with every kind of ornament; and with lotus-like hands he bore the noose (pāśa), the goad (aṅkuśa), the rosary, and also the boon‑granting gesture that fulfills the desired wish.

Word by Word

• rakta-varṇam: red-colored
• rakta-varṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘red-colored’

• mahā-kāyam: huge-bodied
• mahā-kāyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘great-bodied’

• sarva-ābharaṇa-bhūṣitam: adorned with all ornaments
• sarva-ābharaṇa-bhūṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘adorned with all ornaments’ (PPP used adjectivally)

• pāśa-aṃkuśa-akṣa-abhīṣṭam: noose, goad, beads, and boon
• pāśa-aṃkuśa-akṣa-abhīṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃkuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhīṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व: ‘noose, goad, (rosary) beads, and desired boon’ (as held items)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): ‘and’

• dadhānam: holding
• dadhānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘bearing/holding’

• kara-paṃkajaiḥ: with lotus-like hands
• kara-paṃkajaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + paṃkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘lotus-like hands’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents a Saguna (formed) vision suited for dhyāna: the Lord’s majestic body and auspicious implements symbolize Pati (the Lord) governing pasha (bondage) and guiding the pashu (bound soul) toward grace and liberation.

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

While the Liṅga points to Shiva’s nirguṇa depth, this verse supports saguna-upāsanā (personal-form meditation) by giving iconographic markers—ornaments and the held emblems—so the devotee can concentrate the mind and offer bhakti with clarity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna by visualizing the lotus-handed Lord holding pāśa and aṅkuśa, and use a rudrākṣa mālā (akṣa) for japa—especially of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—seeking the Lord’s abhīṣṭa (grace-bestowing boon).