Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

षडध्व-शुद्धिः

Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path

Devanagari script

नम आद्यैर्यकरांतैः कल्पयेत्कल्पवित्तमः । ईशानं मध्यमे कुंभे पुरुषं पुरतः स्थिते

Transliteration

nama ādyairyakarāṃtaiḥ kalpayetkalpavittamaḥ | īśānaṃ madhyame kuṃbhe puruṣaṃ purataḥ sthite

Translation

Then the adept, skilled in ritual arrangement, should mentally set the mantra-letters beginning with “na” and ending with “ya”. In the middle kumbha (ritual vessel) he should contemplate Īśāna (Śiva), and in the vessel placed in front he should contemplate Puruṣa, the Lord’s purifying aspect.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Karma (कर्म/Object of mental offering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; fixed usage), एकवचन; नमस्कारार्थक

• आद्यैः: with the first (ones)
• आद्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• यकारान्तैः: with those ending in 'ya'
• यकारान्तैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यकारान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (यकारेण अन्ताः = ending in 'ya')

• कल्पयेत्: should visualize/arrange
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कल्पवित्तमः: the best knower of the rite
• कल्पवित्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पवित् + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कल्पं वेत्ति इति कल्पवित्; तेषां तमः = best among knowers of ritual)

• ईशानम्: Īśāna (a form of Śiva)
• ईशानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मध्यमे: in the middle
• मध्यमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुम्भे: in the pot (kumbha)
• कुम्भे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पुरुषम्: Puruṣa
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: in front)

• स्थिते: when (it/he is) placed/standing
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute condition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: na … ya (i.e., the pañcākṣarī sequence: na-ma-śi-vā-ya)

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana
• Purusha

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-śuddhi through deliberate mental construction (kalpanā/nyāsa): the practitioner installs Śiva’s aspects in ritual supports, turning external worship into an inward concentration on Pati (Śiva) as the liberating Lord.

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

By assigning Īśāna and Puruṣa to specific ritual vessels, the worshipper approaches Saguna Śiva through form-supported contemplation, a preparatory means that steadies the mind for realizing Śiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-nyāsa/visualization of the Pañcākṣarī sequence (na…ya) with kumbha-upacāra: contemplate Īśāna in the central kumbha and Puruṣa in the front vessel as part of focused Śiva-upāsanā.