Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

अनन्तम्पूर्वदिक्पत्रे सूक्ष्मन्दक्षिणतस्तथा । शिवोत्तमं पश्चिमत एकनेत्रन्तथोत्तरे

Transliteration

anantampūrvadikpatre sūkṣmandakṣiṇatastathā | śivottamaṃ paścimata ekanetrantathottare

Translation

On the petal facing the eastern direction is the form called Ananta; on the southern side is Sūkṣma. On the western side is Śivottama; and on the northern side likewise is Ekanetra.

Word by Word

• अनन्तम्: Ananta (name/form)
• अनन्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• पूर्व-दिक्-पत्रे: on the leaf/petal in the eastern direction
• पूर्व-दिक्-पत्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व + दिक् + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular); षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष-समास: 'पूर्वायां दिशि पत्रे' / 'पूर्वदिग्पत्रे'

• सूक्ष्मम्: Sūkṣma (name/form)
• सूक्ष्मम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• दक्षिणतः: to the south; on the southern side
• दक्षिणतः: अधिकरण (Directional specification)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिणतस् (अव्यय-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (directional adverb): 'from/at the south'

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise')

• शिवोत्तमम्: Śivottama (name/form)
• शिवोत्तमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); कर्मधारय: 'शिवः एव उत्तमः' (name)

• पश्चिमतः: to the west; on the western side
• पश्चिमतः: अधिकरण (Directional specification)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चिमतस् (अव्यय-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (directional adverb)

• एकनेत्रम्: Ekanetra (the one-eyed; name/form)
• एकनेत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); द्विगु/तत्पुरुषभाव: 'एकं नेत्रं यस्य' (as name)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• उत्तरे: in the north; on the northern side
• उत्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative Singular used directionally)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a sacred directional visualization: Shiva is contemplated as multiple divine aspects placed on the lotus-like arrangement of directions, guiding the devotee to see the One Pati (Lord) present in every quarter and transcending limitation.

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

The verse supports saguna-upāsanā by assigning specific names/forms of Shiva to directional petals, a meditative mapping often used with a linga or lotus-maṇḍala so the worshipper honors Shiva’s manifold manifestations while holding Him as the supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A dhyāna practice is implied: meditate on a lotus/maṇḍala of directions and place Ananta in the East, Sūkṣma in the South, Śivottama in the West, and Ekanetra in the North, while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steadiness and devotion.