Shloka 19

Śiva-Pūjākramaḥ — The Procedural Order of Shiva Worship

Pañcāvaraṇa & Upacāras

Devanagari script

मुखवासं दक्षिणां च पादुकासनपत्रकम् । व्यजनं फलकान्दण्डं वैणवं च प्रदाय तान्

Transliteration

mukhavāsaṃ dakṣiṇāṃ ca pādukāsanapatrakam | vyajanaṃ phalakāndaṇḍaṃ vaiṇavaṃ ca pradāya tān

Translation

He then offered the face-cloth (mukhavāsa) and the dakṣiṇā (honorarium), together with sandals, a seat and a leaf-plate; and also a fan, a staff made of phalaka reed, and a bamboo implement—presenting all these as reverential gifts.

Word by Word

• mukhavāsam: face-cloth/veil
• mukhavāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukhavāsa (प्रातिपदिक; mukha+vāsa)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपपद-भावः)

• dakṣiṇām: honorarium/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘दक्षिणा’ = दान/गुरुदक्षिणा

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• pādukā-āsana-patrakam: a small mat/leaf-seat for sandals (sandals-seat-leaf)
• pādukā-āsana-patrakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādukā (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + patraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (निर्देश/सम्बन्ध)

• vyajanam: fan (chamara/fan)
• vyajanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• phalakāndaṇḍam: a staff with a board/handle (board-staff)
• phalakāndaṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phalaka (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विशेष्य-विशेषण/सम्बन्ध)

• vaiṇavam: a vīṇā/instrument
• vaiṇavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वीणा-सम्बन्धि’ (musical instrument)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• pradāya: having given
• pradāya: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (धाातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: दा (to give) उपसर्ग: प्र-; अर्थ: ‘देत्त्वा/प्रदत्त्वा’

• tān: those (them)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not Jyotirliṅga-specific; describes dakṣiṇā and service-gifts (upahāra) as part of sustaining dharma and honoring recipients in Śaiva ritual economy.

Significance: Teaches dāna/dakṣiṇā as a support for ritual continuity and guru/ṛtvik satisfaction—seen as a conduit for merit and for removing obstacles to Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It highlights seva (reverent service) and dakṣiṇā as integral supports of Shaiva worship—outer offerings that purify intention and strengthen devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By emphasizing proper upacāras (respectful ritual provisions), it reflects Saguna Shiva worship where devotion is expressed through tangible offerings that honor Shiva’s presence in the Linga and in the sacred assembly.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests disciplined puja etiquette—offering appropriate items and dakṣiṇā with humility; as a takeaway, combine such offerings with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara) for inner alignment.