Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

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

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

वितानध्वजमालाभिर्विविधाभिरनेकशः । वेदिमध्ये ततः कुर्यान्मंडलं शुभलक्षणम्

Transliteration

vitānadhvajamālābhirvividhābhiranekaśaḥ | vedimadhye tataḥ kuryānmaṃḍalaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam

Translation

Then, adorning the place in many ways with canopies, banners, and garlands, one should prepare—at the very center of the altar—a maṇḍala marked with auspicious signs.

Word by Word

• वितान-ध्वज-मालाभिः: with garlands of canopies and flags
• वितान-ध्वज-मालाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितान (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—वितानध्वजमाला इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वितानस्य ध्वजस्य च माला)

• विविधाभिः: various
• विविधाभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मालाभिः इत्यस्य)

• अनेकशः: in many ways / repeatedly
• अनेकशः: Kriyavisheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of manner/frequency)

• वेदि-मध्ये: in the middle of the altar
• वेदि-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदी (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेद्याः मध्ये)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyavisheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रमवाचक/तदनन्तरम् (then/thereafter)

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मण्डलम्: a circle/diagram (maṇḍala)
• मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• शुभ-लक्षणम्: having auspicious marks
• शुभ-लक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुभं लक्षणं यस्य तत्) विशेषणम् (मण्डलम् इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer order and auspicious arrangement of the worship-space supports inner steadiness—so the devotee’s mind becomes fit to approach Pati (Śiva) with purity and reverence.

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

The altar (vedi) and central maṇḍala establish a consecrated locus for Saguna worship—preparing a pure, symbolically ordered space in which the Liṅga is honored as Śiva’s accessible form for devotion and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean altar, decorate it with auspicious items, and draw a sacred maṇḍala at the center before beginning japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and formal liṅga-pūjā.