Shloka 11

संन्यासमण्डलविधिवर्णनम्

Sannyāsa Maṇḍala Vidhi—Procedure for the Renunciate Mandala

Devanagari script

श्यामेन पीठं पीतेन श्रीकण्ठं च विचित्रयेत् । अमरेशं महाकालं रक्तं कृष्णं च तौ क्रमात्

Transliteration

śyāmena pīṭhaṃ pītena śrīkaṇṭhaṃ ca vicitrayet | amareśaṃ mahākālaṃ raktaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ca tau kramāt

Translation

One should depict the pedestal (pīṭha) in dark blue, and paint Śrīkaṇṭha in yellow. Then, in due order, Amareśa is to be shown in red, and Mahākāla in black.

Word by Word

• श्यामेन: with (the color) dark-blue/black
• श्यामेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण (instrumental of means/color)

• पीठम्: the pedestal/seat
• पीठम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पीतेन: with yellow (color)
• पीतेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘yellow’ as instrumental of coloring

• श्रीकण्ठम्: Śrīkaṇṭha
• श्रीकण्ठम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘Śrī-kaṇṭha’ (epithet/name)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• विचित्रयेत्: should paint/depict
• विचित्रयेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चित्र् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; causative ‘make variegated/paint’

• अमरेशम्: Amareśa
• अमरेशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमरेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाकालम्: Mahākāla
• महाकालम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with one of the two deities, contextually)

• कृष्णम्: black
• कृष्णम्: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• तौ: those two (they)
• तौ: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• क्रमात्: in order/successively
• क्रमात्: प्रकाराधिकरण (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभ (adverbial use of ablative): पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थे ‘क्रमेण’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita’s instructions to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is primarily iconographic (varṇa-vidhi) for a yantra/maṇḍala; it does not narrate a jyotirliṅga origin, though Mahākāla coloration aligns naturally with Ujjain’s Mahākāla tradition.

Significance: Color-vidhi functions as upāsanā-aṅga: correct visualization is treated as aiding concentration (ekāgratā) and mantra-siddhi.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shrikantha
• Amaresha
• Mahakala

FAQs

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

The verse gives dhyāna-oriented iconographic cues—color and form—so the devotee can steady the mind on Saguna Shiva; such focused contemplation supports purification (śuddhi) and opens the way to Shiva’s grace leading toward liberation.

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

It aligns with Saguna upāsanā: Shiva is approached through specific manifestations (Śrīkaṇṭha, Amareśa, Mahākāla) with prescribed colors, aiding visualization and ritual depiction alongside Linga worship as complementary modes of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (visual meditation) and pratimā/yantra-style depiction: contemplate or paint the forms with the stated colors in sequence, supporting mantra-japa and pūjā with a stable inner image of Shiva.