Shloka 8

Devanagari script

आवाहयामि नम इत्यावाह्यार्घोदकेन तु । पाद्यमाचमनं चार्घ्यं वस्त्रगन्धाक्षतानपि

Transliteration

āvāhayāmi nama ityāvāhyārghodakena tu | pādyamācamanaṃ cārghyaṃ vastragandhākṣatānapi

Translation

Reciting, “I invoke You; reverence to You,” one should invite Śiva with arghya-water. Then one should offer water for washing the feet, water for sipping (ācamana), arghya again, and also cloth, fragrance, and unbroken rice-grains (akṣata).

Word by Word

• āvāhayāmi: I invoke / invite
• āvāhayāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/वर्तमान), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person/उत्तमपुरुष), Eka-vacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable/अव्यय), Namanārtha-nipāta (salutatory particle/नमनार्थनिपात)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyasaṃjñā/Quotative (उद्धरणसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• āvāhya: having invoked
• āvāhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vah (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Absolutive/Gerund (त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थ), ‘having invoked’ (आवाह्य)

• arghodakena: with arghya-water (water for offering)
• arghodakena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: argha + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental/तृतीया), Eka-vacana (Singular/एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: arghasya udakam (अर्घस्य उदकम्)

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (emphasis/contrast)

• pādyam: water for washing the feet
• pādyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (Neuter), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) or Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana; pūjopacāra (worship-offering term)

• ācamanaṃ: sipping-water (for rinsing)
• ācamanaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; pūjopacāra

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• arghyam: arghya-offering
• arghyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; pūjopacāra

• vastra: cloth
• vastra: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga; (in compound/series) stem form

• gandha: fragrance / sandal paste
• gandha: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग); (in compound/series) stem form

• akṣatān: unbroken rice grains
• akṣatān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Bahu-vacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (also/even)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: āvāhayāmi namaḥ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion becomes steady when worship is performed with reverent order—invoking Śiva and offering respectful services. In Shaiva Siddhanta, such disciplined pūjā purifies the pashu (bound soul) and turns attention toward Pati (Lord Śiva), preparing the mind for grace (anugraha).

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

The verse describes āvāhana and upacāras—standard steps of Saguna worship—commonly directed to the Śiva-liṅga. By treating the Liṅga as the living presence of Śiva and offering pādya, ācamana, arghya, cloth, fragrance, and akṣata, the devotee establishes intimate devotional relationship while honoring Śiva’s immanence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform āvāhana with the mantra-like phrase “āvāhayāmi, namaḥ,” then offer arghya-water, pādya, ācamana, arghya, and symbolic offerings like gandha and akṣata. Meditatively, each offering can be made with the feeling of surrender—placing the senses and actions at Śiva’s feet.