Shloka 29

शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्

Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship

Devanagari script

धवलं पंचफणिनं लेलिहानमिवाम्बरम् । तस्योपर्यासनं भद्रं कंठीरवचतुष्पदम्

Transliteration

dhavalaṃ paṃcaphaṇinaṃ lelihānamivāmbaram | tasyoparyāsanaṃ bhadraṃ kaṃṭhīravacatuṣpadam

Translation

That five-hooded serpent was white, as though it were licking the sky; and upon it was placed an auspicious seat—a four-footed lion-throne—befitting the Lord’s majesty.

Word by Word

• धवलम्: white, bright
• धवलम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• पञ्चफणिनम्: the five-hooded serpent
• पञ्चफणिनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + फणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• लेलिहानम्: licking, flickering (tongue)
• लेलिहानम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √लिह् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Present active participle; Neuter Nom/Acc Singular)

• इव: like, as if
• इव: सम्बन्ध/उपमान (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अम्बरम्: sky
• अम्बरम्: उपमान (Upamāna/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• तस्य: of it/of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive Singular)

• उपरि: above, on top
• उपरि: अधिकरण (Adverbial locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• आसनम्: seat, pedestal
• आसनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• भद्रम्: auspicious, excellent
• भद्रम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• कंठीरवचतुष्पदम्: a lion-like quadruped (lion)
• कंठीरवचतुष्पदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंठीरव + चतुष्पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'कंठीरवस्य चतुष्पदम्'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses sacred imagery—serpent and lion-throne—to convey Shiva’s sovereign mastery over fear, death, and the restless mind; the “auspicious seat” points to Pati (the Lord) as the stable refuge for the bound soul (paśu) amid worldly agitation (pāśa).

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

It supports Saguna-dhyāna (form-based contemplation): devotees may visualize Shiva’s divine majesty as described, which culminates in steadiness of mind and reverence that naturally matures into Linga-worship—adoration of Shiva as the supreme, auspicious Reality represented by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is dhyāna with japa: mentally place Shiva on an auspicious throne while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating inner steadiness and devotion; if practiced ritually, it pairs well with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and respectful offerings.