Shloka 17

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

ग्रहाणां च समस्तानां यथा सूर्यो विशिष्यते । तथा सर्वेषु देवेषु श्रीपराम्बा विशिष्यते

Transliteration

grahāṇāṃ ca samastānāṃ yathā sūryo viśiṣyate | tathā sarveṣu deveṣu śrīparāmbā viśiṣyate

Translation

Just as the Sun excels among all the planets, so does Śrī Parāmbā, the Supreme Mother, excel among all the deities.

Word by Word

• grahāṇām: of the planets
• grahāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• samastānām: of all/entire
• samastānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Bahuvacana; adjective qualifying grahāṇām

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative adverb

• sūryaḥ: the Sun
• sūryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• viśiṣyate: excels
• viśiṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śiṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; upasarga: vi-; sense: ‘excels/is distinguished’

• tathā: so/likewise
• tathā: Upameya-dyotaka (उपमेय-द्योतक/Correlative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative adverb ‘so/thus’

• sarveṣu: among all
• sarveṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti, Bahuvacana; used substantively with deveṣu

• deveṣu: among the gods
• deveṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• śrīparāmbā: Śrī Parāmbā (the Supreme Mother)
• śrīparāmbā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + parā + ambā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; Karmadhāraya/title: śrīmatī parā ambā = ‘the glorious Supreme Mother’

• viśiṣyate: excels
• viśiṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śiṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; upasarga: vi-

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; it is a doctrinal hierarchy statement: Parāmbā as supreme among devatās, consistent with Śiva-Śakti supremacy in Śaiva theology.

Significance: Encourages Śakti-upāsanā within Śaiva frame: honoring Parāmbā is honoring Śiva’s inseparable power; yields auspiciousness and spiritual uplift.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati (Uma/Paramba)
• Surya

FAQs

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

The verse declares Śrī Parāmbā (Umā/Pārvatī) as foremost among the devas, using the Sun’s preeminence as an analogy—affirming the Shaiva-Shakta insight that the Divine Mother is the supreme power (Śakti) inseparable from Śiva, the source of grace and liberation.

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

In Shiva Purana devotion, Linga worship is not separate from Śakti: Śiva is worshiped as Pati (the Lord) and Parāmbā as His inseparable Śakti. This verse supports Saguna upāsanā where devotees honor Śiva along with Umā, recognizing their unity in bestowing protection, bhakti, and moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Umā–Maheśvara upāsanā: worship Śiva with reverence to Parāmbā alongside—offering bilva, applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma), and repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” while mentally invoking Umā as the Lord’s compassionate power.