Shloka 52

शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्

Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship

Devanagari script

त्रिलोचनारविन्दाढ्यं बालेन्दुकृतशेखरम् । दक्षिणं नीलजीमूतसमानरुचिरप्रभम्

Transliteration

trilocanāravindāḍhyaṃ bālendukṛtaśekharam | dakṣiṇaṃ nīlajīmūtasamānaruciraprabham

Translation

On the right stood the Lord: His lotus-like three eyes shone forth; He wore the young crescent moon as the jewel upon His crest, and His lovely radiance resembled a dark-blue raincloud.

Word by Word

• trilocanāravindāḍhyam: rich with three lotus-eyes
• trilocanāravindāḍhyam: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri-locana-aravinda-āḍhya (त्रिलोचनारविन्दाढ्य)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bālendukṛtaśekharam: having the young moon as a crest
• bālendukṛtaśekharam: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla-indu-kṛta-śekhara (बालेन्दुकृतशेखर)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dakṣiṇam: southern (face)
• dakṣiṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇa (दक्षिण)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nīlajīmūtasamānaruciraprabham: having a beautiful luster like a dark cloud
• nīlajīmūtasamānaruciraprabham: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla-jīmūta-samāna-rucira-prabha (नीलजीमूतसमानरुचिरप्रभ)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Saguna Shiva for dhyana: the three eyes signify omniscient awareness beyond past, present, and future, while the crescent moon indicates mastery over time and the mind—guiding the bound soul (pashu) toward the Lord (Pati) through devotion and contemplation.

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

While the Linga points to Shiva’s formless transcendence, this verse supports worship through a compassionate, perceivable form—Trilochana and Chandrashekhara—so the devotee can steady the mind in bhakti and yoga, eventually realizing the same Supreme reflected in the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-dhyana by visualizing the three-eyed Lord with the crescent moon and cloud-like splendor while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; this is especially suitable for Mahashivratri vrata, japa, and inner worship.