Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

गण्डद्वितयसंसृष्टमण्डलीकृतकुण्डलम् । वरामरशिरोमालावलीकलितशेखरम्

Transliteration

gaṇḍadvitayasaṃsṛṣṭamaṇḍalīkṛtakuṇḍalam | varāmaraśiromālāvalīkalitaśekharam

Translation

His circular earrings rested close against both cheeks, and his crest was adorned with a series of garlands made of the heads of exalted immortals—an awe-inspiring, sovereign ornament befitting the Supreme Lord in manifest (saguṇa) form.

Word by Word

• गण्डद्वितयसंसृष्टमण्डलीकृतकुण्डलम्: whose earrings are circular and attached to both cheeks
• गण्डद्वितयसंसृष्टमण्डलीकृतकुण्डलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गण्ड+द्वितय+संसृष्ट+मण्डलीकृत+कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (गण्डद्वितयेन संसृष्टं मण्डलीकृतं कुण्डलं यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वरामरशिरोमालावलीकलितशेखरम्: whose crest is adorned with a garland-row of excellent divine heads
• वरामरशिरोमालावलीकलितशेखरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर+अमर+शिरस्+माला+अवली+कलित+शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (वरामराणां शिरोमालावल्या कलितः शेखरः यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses sacred iconography to steady devotion: contemplating Shiva’s awe-inspiring adornments turns the mind from worldly fascination toward reverence for the Pati (Lord) who transcends fear and grants liberation.

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

It supports saguṇa-upāsanā (worship with form): devotees meditate on Shiva’s visible attributes to purify attention, which culminates in deeper realization of Shiva beyond form—often approached through Linga worship as the stable, aniconic focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (visual meditation) on Shiva’s form during japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and remembrance.