Shloka 5

Ekādaśāhna-vidhiḥ (The Rite Prescribed for the Eleventh Day): Maṇḍala-racanā, Āvāhana, Mudrā, and Ativāhika-devatā Pūjā

Devanagari script

प्राणानायम्य संकल्प्य पूजयित्वा सुरेश्वरी । देवताः पञ्च पूर्वोक्ता अतिवाहिकरूपिणीः

Transliteration

prāṇānāyamya saṃkalpya pūjayitvā sureśvarī | devatāḥ pañca pūrvoktā ativāhikarūpiṇīḥ

Translation

O Goddess of the Devas, having regulated the life-breath and formed the sacred resolve (saṅkalpa), one should worship the five deities mentioned earlier, who are in the form of subtle carriers (ativāhikas) that convey the worshipper’s offering and inner intention.

Word by Word

• प्राणान्: breaths/vital airs
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्म of आयम्य

• आयम्य: having regulated
• आयम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having restrained/regulated’

• संकल्प्य: having resolved
• संकल्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having resolved’

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) in -इत्वा form, अव्ययभाव; ‘having worshipped’

• सुरेश्वरी: O Sureśvarī (goddess, mistress of gods)
• सुरेश्वरी: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/कर्तृनिर्देश (address/subject); तत्पुरुष ‘goddess/lady of the gods’ (सुराणाम् ईश्वरी)

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (topic)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनार्थे; modifies देवताः

• पूर्वोक्ताः: previously mentioned
• पूर्वोक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वच्/वद् → उक्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण of देवताः; कर्मधारय ‘previously stated’

• अतिवाहिकरूपिणीः: having the form of conveyers/transporters
• अतिवाहिकरूपिणीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिवाहिक + रूपिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण of देवताः; तत्पुरुष ‘having the form of (being) carriers/transporters’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Deities (five subtle carriers/ativāhikas)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship is not only external ritual: prāṇāyāma (inner purification) and saṅkalpa (right intention) prepare the consciousness so the offering becomes spiritually effective and aligned to Pati (Shiva).

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

In Linga/Saguna worship, the devotee first steadies prāṇa and fixes intention, then performs pūjā through prescribed divine agencies; this underscores that the Linga ritual is a bridge where inner discipline supports outer worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin with prāṇāyāma and a clear saṅkalpa before pūjā; then worship the prescribed deities as subtle carriers of the rite—ideally alongside Shaiva supports like mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) where applicable.