Shloka 4

गजाननपूजा तथा औपासन-होमविधिः

Worship of Gajānana and the Procedure of Aupāsana-Homa

Devanagari script

एवमावाह्य सन्ध्याय शंभुपुत्रं गजाननम् । अभ्यर्च्य पायसापूपनालिकेरगुडादिभिः

Transliteration

evamāvāhya sandhyāya śaṃbhuputraṃ gajānanam | abhyarcya pāyasāpūpanālikeraguḍādibhiḥ

Translation

Thus, at the time of Sandhyā, the sacred twilight junction, having invoked Gaṇānana—Gajānanā, the elephant-faced son of Śambhu—one should worship him with offerings such as pāyasa, āpūpa, coconut, jaggery, and the like.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• āvāhya: having invoked
• āvāhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vah (वह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having invoked'

• sandhyāyām: at the twilight time; in sandhyā
• sandhyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃbhu-putram: Śambhu's son
• śaṃbhu-putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); genitive-tatpurusha 'son of Śambhu'

• gaja-ānanam: the elephant-faced (Gaṇeśa)
• gaja-ānanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya 'elephant-faced'

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having worshipped'

• pāyasa-āpūpa-nālikera-guḍa-ādibhiḥ: with rice-pudding, cakes, coconut, jaggery, etc.
• pāyasa-āpūpa-nālikera-guḍa-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa + āpūpa + nālikera + guḍa + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter collective in Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); -ādibhiḥ indicates 'etc.'; compound list used as offering instruments/means

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that at Sandhyā—the liminal time suited for sādhana—one should invoke and worship Gaṇeśa, Śiva’s son, as the remover of obstacles so that Shaiva worship proceeds without impediments and with steadiness of mind.

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

In Saguna Shaiva ritual, worship often begins with Gaṇeśa (Śambhuputra) to clear obstacles before approaching the principal deity—commonly Śiva as Liṅga—so the devotee’s intention, mantra, and offerings become effective and uninterrupted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Sandhyā worship by mentally invoking (āvāhana) Gaṇeśa and offering simple sattvic naivedya—pāyasa, cakes, coconut, jaggery—while maintaining reverence and focused remembrance before continuing other Shiva Purana puja steps.