Shloka 10

Devanagari script

तत्पूर्वकोष्ठे गन्धाद्यैस्सम्प्रपूज्य विनायकम् । पश्चिमोत्तरकोष्ठे च वृषभन्दक्षिणे गुहम्

Transliteration

tatpūrvakoṣṭhe gandhādyaissamprapūjya vināyakam | paścimottarakoṣṭhe ca vṛṣabhandakṣiṇe guham

Translation

In the eastern chamber one should duly worship Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa) with fragrances and the like. In the north‑western chamber one should worship Vṛṣabha (Nandin), and in the southern chamber Guha (Skanda/Kārttikeya).

Word by Word

• तत्-पूर्व-कोष्ठे: in that eastern chamber
• तत्-पूर्व-कोष्ठे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘तस्य पूर्वः कोष्ठः’

• गन्ध-आद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्ध-आद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘गन्धादि’ = perfumes etc.

• सम्प्रपूज्य: having worshipped properly
• सम्प्रपूज्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-प्र-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having duly worshipped’

• विनायकम्: Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)
• विनायकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पश्चिम-उत्तर-कोष्ठे: in the northwest chamber
• पश्चिम-उत्तर-कोष्ठे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + कोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (दिक्-द्वन्द्व: पश्चिमश्च उत्तरश्च) + कोष्ठे

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• वृषभम्: the bull (Nandin)
• वृषभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: in the south (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (दिक्शब्द), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• गुहम्: Guha (Kārttikeya)
• गुहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Vinayaka (Ganesha)
• Vrsabha (Nandi)
• Guha (Kartikeya/Skanda)

FAQs

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

It teaches orderly approach in Śaiva worship: honoring Śiva’s parivāra (Vināyaka, Nandin, and Guha) with respectful offerings so the devotee’s obstacles are removed, devotion is steadied, and the mind becomes fit for communion with Pati (Śiva).

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

In Saguna Śiva upāsanā, the Linga is approached through Śiva’s sacred attendants and sons; worshipping Vināyaka, Nandin, and Guha is a prescribed preparatory reverence that supports focused Linga worship and reinforces the temple’s sacred hierarchy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer gandha (fragrance), flowers, and related upacāras first to Vināyaka, then to Nandin and Guha in their respective directions/chambers; mentally maintain the Panchākṣarī spirit—humble surrender to Śiva—before proceeding to the main Śiva worship.