Shloka 60

गजाननपूजा तथा औपासन-होमविधिः

Worship of Gajānana and the Procedure of Aupāsana-Homa

Devanagari script

प्रणवस्सर्ववेदादिः प्रणवः शिववाचकः । मन्त्राधिराजराजश्च महाबीजं मनुः परः

Transliteration

praṇavassarvavedādiḥ praṇavaḥ śivavācakaḥ | mantrādhirājarājaśca mahābījaṃ manuḥ paraḥ

Translation

Praṇava (Oṃ) is the primordial source and beginning of all the Vedas. Praṇava is the direct signifier of Śiva. It is the sovereign king of all mantras, the supreme great seed (bīja), and the highest sacred formula (manu).

Word by Word

• praṇavaḥ: Praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• sarva-veda-ādiḥ: the beginning of all Vedas etc.
• sarva-veda-ādiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of praṇavaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (veda-ādi = वेदानाम् आदिः; sarva-veda-ādi = सर्ववेदानाम् आदिः)

• praṇavaḥ: Praṇava
• praṇavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śiva-vācakaḥ: denoting Śiva
• śiva-vācakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of praṇavaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + vācaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śivasya vācakaḥ = शिववाचकः)

• mantra-adhirāja-rājaḥ: the supreme king among mantras
• mantra-adhirāja-rājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositional to praṇavaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + adhirāja (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (mantrāṇām adhirājaḥ; tasya rājā = ‘king of the overlord of mantras’ i.e., supreme king among mantras)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• mahā-bījam: the great seed (syllable)
• mahā-bījam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositional/predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् बीजम्)

• manuḥ: mantra / sacred formula
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Veda-origin doctrine: Praṇava as ādi of śruti and mantra-king

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Oṃ (Praṇava) as the supreme seed-sound that reveals Śiva as Pati (the Lord) and supports Vedic revelation; meditating on it is presented as a direct aid toward liberation (moksha) in a Shaiva understanding.

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

Praṇava is taught as Śiva’s verbal emblem: it sanctifies external worship (such as Linga-pūjā) and also leads the mind inward toward Śiva’s subtle presence, bridging Saguna devotion and the deeper contemplation of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Praṇava-japa (repetition of Oṃ) with steady breath and focused awareness, optionally as a preparatory mantra before Shiva worship and before reciting Shaiva mantras such as the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya).