Shloka 56

Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama

Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple

Devanagari script

अभिषिंचेत देवेशं ध्यायन्हृदि यथाक्रमम् । अथोपवेश्य तं शिष्यं शिवमभ्यर्च्य पूर्ववत्

Transliteration

abhiṣiṃceta deveśaṃ dhyāyanhṛdi yathākramam | athopaveśya taṃ śiṣyaṃ śivamabhyarcya pūrvavat

Translation

Meditating in his heart, step by step in the prescribed order, he should perform the abhiṣeka of the Lord of gods. Then, seating that disciple, he should worship Lord Śiva again, just as done before.

Word by Word

• अभिषिञ्चेत: should anoint/sprinkle
• अभिषिञ्चेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• देव-ईशम्: the Lord of gods
• देव-ईशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृदि: in (his) heart
• हृदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• यथा-क्रमम्: in proper sequence
• यथा-क्रमम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb): ‘in due order’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conj./particle): अनन्तर (then)

• उपवेश्य: having seated
• उपवेश्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having seated’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिष्यम्: disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having worshipped’

• पूर्ववत्: as previously
• पूर्ववत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘as before’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It joins inner contemplation (hṛd-dhyāna) with outer ritual (abhiṣeka and arcana), teaching that Śiva is approached through ordered practice where devotion and disciplined procedure mature the soul (paśu) toward Śiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).

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

Abhiṣeka and abhyarcana are hallmark acts of Liṅga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship: the devotee honors Śiva’s manifest form through water-offering and formal pūjā, while simultaneously holding Śiva inwardly through meditation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A sequential Shiva-pūjā: meditate on Śiva in the heart, perform abhiṣeka, then seat the disciple and repeat worship ‘as before’—implying adherence to the established pūjā-vidhi, typically supported by mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī: Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna.