Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

सर्वांगोद्धूलनं कुर्यात्प्रणवेन शिवेन वा । ततस्त्रिपुण्ड्रं रचयेत्त्रियायुषसमाह्वयम्

Transliteration

sarvāṃgoddhūlanaṃ kuryātpraṇavena śivena vā | tatastripuṇḍraṃ racayettriyāyuṣasamāhvayam

Translation

One should smear the sacred ash over the entire body while reciting the Praṇava (Oṁ) or the holy name of Śiva. Thereafter one should draw the Tripuṇḍra, the three ash-lines, invoking the threefold life—past, present, and future—so that they are purified by that consecration.

Word by Word

• सर्वाङ्ग-उद्धूलनम्: smearing/covering (with ash) of all limbs
• सर्वाङ्ग-उद्धूलनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अङ्ग + उद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'सर्वेषाम् अङ्गानाम् उद्धूलनम्'

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• शिवेन: with (the name) Śiva
• शिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (then/from that)

• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: the triple mark (tripuṇḍra)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical): 'त्रीणि पुण्ड्राणि'

• रचयेत्: should make / draw
• रचयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रि-आयुष-समाह्वयम्: invoking the three lifespans (threefold longevity)
• त्रि-आयुष-समाह्वयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + आयुष् + समाह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: 'त्रीणि आयूंषि समाह्वयति इति' (having the invocation of three lifespans)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (प्रणव) / शिव (नाम)

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches bhasma-dhāraṇa as a Shaiva purifier: the ash signifies detachment from impermanence, while mantra-recitation sanctifies the body as a fit vessel for devotion to Pati (Śiva) and for liberation-oriented practice.

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

Tripuṇḍra and bhasma are external marks of Saguna Śiva-upāsanā that prepare the worshipper for Linga-pūjā; the Praṇava/Śiva-mantra aligns the mind with Śiva’s presence before entering ritual worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Smear sacred ash over the body while reciting Oṁ or a Śiva-mantra, then apply the Tripuṇḍra on the forehead (and other prescribed places), treating it as a mantra-charged act of purification and remembrance.