Shloka 6

गजाननपूजा तथा औपासन-होमविधिः

Worship of Gajānana and the Procedure of Aupāsana-Homa

Devanagari script

अथ सायन्तनीं सन्ध्यामुपास्य स्नानपूर्वकम् । सायमौपासनं हुत्वा मौनी विज्ञापयेद्गुरुम्

Transliteration

atha sāyantanīṃ sandhyāmupāsya snānapūrvakam | sāyamaupāsanaṃ hutvā maunī vijñāpayedgurum

Translation

Then, having first bathed, he should perform the evening Sandhyā worship. Having offered the evening aupāsana oblation, remaining silent and self-restrained, he should respectfully inform his guru and seek his instruction.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तरार्थक/प्रारम्भक अव्यय)

• sāyantanīm: evening (pertaining to evening)
• sāyantanīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāyantanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying sandhyām

• sandhyām: twilight worship (sandhyā)
• sandhyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• upāsya: having performed (worship)
• upāsya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√ās (आस् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having worshipped/observed'

• snāna-pūrvakam: preceded by bathing
• snāna-pūrvakam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: snāna + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; 'with bathing as the prior act' (पूर्वक)

• sāyam: in the evening
• sāyam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāyam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• aupāsanam: the evening oblation/aupāsana rite
• aupāsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aupāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• hutvā: having offered (oblations)
• hutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hu (हु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having offered (into fire)'

• maunī: one observing silence
• maunī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maunin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agent described as observing silence

• vijñāpayet: should inform; should report
• vijñāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñap (ज्ञप् धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• gurum: the teacher
• gurum: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Evening sandhyā as liminal time suited for upāsanā and guru-samīpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches Shaiva discipline: purification by bath, regulated twilight worship, and humility before the guru—outer order supporting inner stillness for Shiva-realization.

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

Sandhyā and aupāsana stabilize purity and attention, making the devotee fit for focused Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā and japa—performed under the guru’s guidance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Evening bath, Sandhyā upāsanā, aupāsana homa, and mauna (silence). Practically, one may add Shiva-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) after Sandhyā with a calm, restrained mind.