Shloka 81

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

लोहितैः करवीराद्यैः पुष्पैर्धूपैस्सुगन्धितैः । पूजयेन्मङ्गलान्देवीं स सर्वं मंगलं लभेत्

Transliteration

lohitaiḥ karavīrādyaiḥ puṣpairdhūpaissugandhitaiḥ | pūjayenmaṅgalāndevīṃ sa sarvaṃ maṃgalaṃ labhet

Translation

With red flowers—such as karavīra and the like—and with fragrant incense, one should worship the auspicious Goddess Maṅgalā (Umā). Such a devotee attains every kind of auspiciousness and well-being.

Word by Word

• lohitaiḥ: with red
• lohitaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies पुष्पैः/धूपैः (context)

• karavīra-ādyaiḥ: with (flowers) such as oleander etc.
• karavīra-ādyaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karavīra-ādi (प्रातिपदिक; करवीर + आदि)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘beginning with karavīra’

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers
• puṣpaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dhūpaiḥ: with incense
• dhūpaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sugandhitaiḥ: with fragrant
• sugandhitaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-gandhita (प्रातिपदिक; सु + गन्धित, PPP of √gandh ‘to smell/fragrance’)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies पुष्पैः/धूपैः

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु; पूज् ‘to worship’)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• maṅgalān: auspicious (offerings/acts)
• maṅgalān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies (implicit) ‘upacāras’ or ‘stotras’; used as ‘auspicious (things)’

• devīm: the Goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; तद्-pronominal stem)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvam: all/complete
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies maṅgalam

• maṅgalam: auspiciousness/welfare
• maṅgalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• labhet: would obtain
• labhet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु; लभ् ‘to obtain’)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā teachings to the sages, describing the prescribed worship)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes Śakti-upāsanā within a Śaiva frame: pleasing Maṅgalā (Umā) is presented as a direct conduit to sarva-maṅgala (overall auspiciousness), supporting both worldly harmony and spiritual progress.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that auspiciousness (maṅgala) arises through devoted, reverent worship of Umā as the benevolent power of Shiva—grace expressed as harmony, protection, and right-ordered life.

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

In Saguna Shaiva worship, Shiva is adored together with His Shakti; honoring Umā with proper offerings complements Linga worship by acknowledging the inseparable unity of Shiva (Pati) and His grace-power (Shakti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform simple pūjā using red flowers (especially karavīra) and fragrant dhūpa, offering them with devotion and purity of intent to Maṅgalā Devī for well-being and auspicious outcomes.