Shloka 54

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

एते पाशुपताः शिष्या भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः । रुद्राक्षमालाभरणास्त्रिपुण्ड्रांकितमस्तकाः

Transliteration

ete pāśupatāḥ śiṣyā bhasmoddhūlitavigrahāḥ | rudrākṣamālābharaṇāstripuṇḍrāṃkitamastakāḥ

Translation

These are the Pāśupata disciples—whose bodies are smeared with sacred ash (bhasma/vibhūti), who wear garlands of Rudrākṣa beads, and whose heads are marked with the Tripuṇḍra, the three horizontal lines of vibhūti—the distinctive signs of devotion to Lord Rudra.

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम-विशेषणम्

• पाशुपताः: Pāśupatas (followers of Paśupati)
• पाशुपताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• शिष्याः: disciples
• शिष्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहाः: whose bodies are dusted with ash
• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलित (उद्धूल् धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भस्मना उद्धूलितः विग्रहः यस्य/ये)

• रुद्राक्ष-माला-आभरणाः: wearing Rudrākṣa garlands as ornaments
• रुद्राक्ष-माला-आभरणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रुद्राक्षमालाया आभरणम् येषाम्)

• त्रि-पुण्ड्र-अंकित-मस्तकाः: with heads marked with the triple sacred ash-lines
• त्रि-पुण्ड्र-अंकित-मस्तकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अंकित (अङ्क् धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रिपुण्ड्रेण अंकितं मस्तकं येषाम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: adopting Pāśupata marks (bhasma, rudrākṣa, tripuṇḍra) signifies surrender to Paśupati and supports purification and eligibility for Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Paśupati

FAQs

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

The verse identifies the outer Shaiva insignia—bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and Tripuṇḍra—as visible commitments of the Pāśupata disciple to Paśupati (Shiva), expressing humility, purity, and steadfast bhakti aimed toward liberation under Shiva’s grace.

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

These marks and ornaments are traditional supports for Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Shiva as Rudra/Paśupati and honoring the Linga with disciplined devotion—so the devotee’s body itself becomes prepared as a vessel for ritual, remembrance, and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopting Shaiva practice through applying vibhūti as Tripuṇḍra, wearing Rudrākṣa, and maintaining a devotional identity consistent with Pāśupata observance—supporting japa, pūjā, and steady remembrance of Shiva.