Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

सर्वांगालंबनं चैव कुर्यात्तेनैव देशिकः । शिष्यो ऽपि प्रणमेद्भूमौ देशिकाकृतमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

sarvāṃgālaṃbanaṃ caiva kuryāttenaiva deśikaḥ | śiṣyo 'pi praṇamedbhūmau deśikākṛtamīśvaram

Translation

Then the preceptor (deśika) should perform the rite of complete bodily support, placing the disciple under his full guiding protection and discipline. The disciple too should bow down to the ground, offering obeisance to the Lord (Īśvara) as established and manifested through the preceptor’s consecratory act.

Word by Word

• sarva-aṅga-ālambanam: support of all limbs (full-body support)
• sarva-aṅga-ālambanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + ālambana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sarveṣāṃ aṅgānām ālambanam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tena: by that/thereby
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• deśikaḥ: the teacher/guru
• deśikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śiṣyaḥ: the disciple
• śiṣyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also/even)

• praṇamet: should bow
• praṇamet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• deśika-kṛtam: made by the teacher
• deśika-kṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deśika (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृ धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (deśikena kṛtam)

• īśvaram: the Lord (image/representation)
• īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that access to Īśvara (Shiva) in worship is stabilized through the guru’s consecratory guidance, and that the disciple’s humility—expressed as bowing to the ground—opens the heart to grace (anugraha) and right knowledge.

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

By saying the disciple bows to “Īśvara as established by the preceptor,” the verse reflects the Shaiva understanding that Saguna Shiva is approached through proper ritual establishment (pratiṣṭhā/vidhi) under a qualified guru, making the worship a living encounter rather than mere form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A guru-guided rite of initiation/establishment followed by full prostration (praṇāma) and disciplined, embodied devotion—supporting steady worship (often alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).