Shloka 53

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

पृष्ठतोऽस्तगिरिश्चैव ह्यविकेशश्च केसरी । शाकस्तत्र महावृक्षस्सिद्धगंधर्वसेवितः

Transliteration

pṛṣṭhato'stagiriścaiva hyavikeśaśca kesarī | śākastatra mahāvṛkṣassiddhagaṃdharvasevitaḥ

Translation

Behind it stood Mount Asta, and there was also the lion named Avikeśa. In that place a great Śāka tree grew, attended and honored by Siddhas and Gandharvas.

Word by Word

• पृष्ठतः: behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb of direction ‘from behind/at the back’

• अस्त-गिरिः: Astagiri (the sunset-mountain)
• अस्त-गिरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय: ‘setting-mountain’); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic particle

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha-dyotaka (सम्बन्ध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; explanatory particle

• अविकेशः: Avikeśa
• अविकेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• केसरी: Kesarī
• केसरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• शाकः: Śāka
• शाकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name (tree/island-name context)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; place adverb

• महा-वृक्षः: a great tree
• महा-वृक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (‘great tree’); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• सिद्ध-गन्धर्व-सेवितः: served by Siddhas and Gandharvas
• सिद्ध-गन्धर्व-सेवितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (सेव् धातु, क्त)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व within first members (सिद्ध + गन्धर्व = ‘Siddhas and Gandharvas’) + क्त-कृदन्त ‘served’; overall compound used adjectivally; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies महावृक्षः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmographic detailing: Asta mountain ‘behind’, a lion named Avikeśa, and a great Śāka tree revered by Siddhas and Gandharvas. No Jyotirliṅga origin is stated.

Significance: Evokes a sacral ecology: holy landscape populated by siddhas/gandharvas; such settings imply heightened puṇya and proximity to divine presence.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mythic geography populated by semi-divine beings (siddhas, gandharvas) typical of Purāṇic loka-descriptions.

Characters & Entities

• Siddhas
• Gandharvas

FAQs

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

The verse marks the site as divinely charged: mountains, sacred trees, and celestial attendants indicate a kṣetra where devotion ripens quickly. In Shaiva understanding, such sanctified space supports bhakti and inner purity, preparing the seeker for Shiva’s grace.

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

Although the Linga is not named here, the presence of Siddhas and Gandharvas functions as a narrative sign of a Shiva-kṣetra where Saguna Shiva worship is naturally established. Such descriptions commonly frame the setting for Linga worship, vrata, and darśana in the Purana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is kṣetra-sevā: visiting or mentally contemplating the holy place with reverence, coupled with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya). One may also perform simple offerings under a sacred tree—water, bilva, or lamps—while maintaining Shaiva purity and devotion.