Shloka 37

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

शिष्यासनं सम्प्रपूज्य षडुत्थापनमार्गतः । शिवासनं च संकल्प्य शिवमूर्तिं प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

śiṣyāsanaṃ samprapūjya ṣaḍutthāpanamārgataḥ | śivāsanaṃ ca saṃkalpya śivamūrtiṃ prakalpayet

Translation

Having duly worshipped the disciple’s seat according to the sixfold method of raising (invocation and installation), one should then mentally resolve upon Śiva’s own seat and properly establish the sacred form (mūrti) of Śiva.

Word by Word

• शिष्य-आसनम्: the disciple’s seat
• शिष्य-आसनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिष्यस्य आसनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सम्प्रपूज्य: having worshipped properly
• सम्प्रपूज्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having duly worshipped’

• षट्-उत्थापन-मार्गतः: according to the sixfold procedure of raising
• षट्-उत्थापन-मार्गतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्/प्रकारः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + उत्थापन (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—षडुत्थापनमार्ग (sixfold raising procedure) + तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय ‘-तः’ (according to/from); ‘according to the six-raising method’

• शिव-आसनम्: Śiva’s seat
• शिव-आसनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य आसनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• संकल्प्य: having arranged/mentally resolved
• संकल्प्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having resolved/arranged’

• शिव-मूर्तिम्: Śiva’s form/icon
• शिव-मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य मूर्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should construct/arrange
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā’s worship procedure to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined worship: the sādhaka purifies and orders the ritual space (including the worshipper’s seat), then makes a sankalpa and establishes Śiva’s presence, aligning outer action with inner intention—key to Shaiva Siddhanta devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By instructing the devotee to ‘establish Śiva’s seat and form,’ it supports saguna-upāsanā—invoking and installing Śiva in a worshipful locus (liṅga or mūrti) so the mind can concentrate on Śiva as the gracious Lord who grants purification and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured pūjā sequence: worship the āsana, perform a sixfold installation/invocation method, take sankalpa, and then set up Śiva’s mūrti—serving as a meditative anchor for mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during worship.