Shloka 19

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणम्पश्चिमे पद्मे समावाह्य समर्चयेत् । हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तत इति मंत्रेण मंत्रवित्

Transliteration

brahmāṇampaścime padme samāvāhya samarcayet | hiraṇyagarbhaḥ samavartata iti maṃtreṇa maṃtravit

Translation

The knower of mantras should invoke Brahmā upon the western lotus-seat and worship him duly, using the mantra: “Hiraṇyagarbhaḥ samavartata” (“The Golden Embryo manifested”).

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पद्मे: in the lotus
• पद्मे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सम्-आवाह्य: having invoked
• सम्-आवाह्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having invoked/caused to come’

• सम्-अर्चयेत्: should worship
• सम्-अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• हिरण्यगर्भः: Hiraṇyagarbha
• हिरण्यगर्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यगर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हिरण्यस्य गर्भः)

• सम्-अवर्तत: came into being/turned forth
• सम्-अवर्तत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिपूर्ण-भूत (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यादि-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• मन्त्र-वित्: the knower of mantras
• मन्त्र-वित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रान् वेत्ति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined, mantra-guided worship (saguna-upāsanā) where cosmic functions—like creation represented by Brahmā—are honored in their proper place, while the overall rite remains oriented to Śiva as the supreme Pati beyond all functions.

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

In many Shiva-puja procedures, subsidiary deities are invoked on designated seats around the main worship to establish cosmic harmony; this supports focused devotion to the Śiva-liṅga as the central, supreme presence while acknowledging Brahmā’s role as a dependent cosmic power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured invocation (āvāhana) and worship (arcana) of Brahmā on the western lotus-seat, reciting the Vedic mantra “hiraṇyagarbhaḥ samavartata,” emphasizing precise direction, seat-placement, and mantra-recitation as part of the larger Śaiva rite.