Shloka 28

शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्

Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship

Devanagari script

आधारशक्तिं कल्याणीं श्यामां ध्यायेदधो भुवि । तस्याः पुरस्तादुत्कंठमनन्तं कुंडलाकृतिम्

Transliteration

ādhāraśaktiṃ kalyāṇīṃ śyāmāṃ dhyāyedadho bhuvi | tasyāḥ purastādutkaṃṭhamanantaṃ kuṃḍalākṛtim

Translation

One should meditate, below on the earth-plane, upon Ādhāra-Śakti, the auspicious Support-Power, dark-hued and benevolent. Before Her, one should contemplate Ananta, the Endless One, with raised hoods, coiled in the form of a ring.

Word by Word

• आधार-शक्तिम्: the ādhāra-śakti (supporting power)
• आधार-शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘आधारस्य शक्तिः’

• कल्याणीम्: auspicious
• कल्याणीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्याणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्यामाम्: dark-complexioned
• श्यामाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate upon
• ध्यायेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अधः: below
• अधः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• भुवि: on/in the earth (ground)
• भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक ‘भू/भूमि’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुरस्तात्: in front (of her)
• पुरस्तात्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (in front)

• उत्कण्ठम्: the raised neck/throat (utkaṇṭha)
• उत्कण्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• अनन्तम्: endless; infinite
• अनन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुण्डल-आकृतिम्: having the form of a coil/ring
• कुण्डल-आकृतिम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; ‘कुण्डलस्य आकृतिः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (उत्कण्ठम् इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Ananta (Shesha)

FAQs

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

It teaches a structured Shaiva dhyāna: first establishing awareness on the foundational Śakti (the sustaining power that supports embodied existence), then visualizing Ananta as the symbol of endless, steady support—preparing the mind for unwavering contemplation of Shiva (Pati) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

In Saguna upāsanā, the mind is anchored through sacred forms and cosmic supports. Ādhāra-Śakti and Ananta function as meditative supports (ālambana) that stabilize attention, making inner worship of the Liṅga and Shiva’s presence steady and continuous.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A visualization-based meditation (dhyāna) is prescribed: contemplate the auspicious Ādhāra-Śakti below and Ananta coiled like a ring before her. This can be paired with calm japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady the mind during inner worship.