Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

पूजाविधान-व्याख्या (Pūjāvidhāna-vyākhyā) — Exposition of the Procedure of Worship

Devanagari script

वरदाभयहस्तं च मृगटंकधरं हरम् । भुजंगहारवलयं चारुनीलगलांतरम्

Transliteration

varadābhayahastaṃ ca mṛgaṭaṃkadharaṃ haram | bhujaṃgahāravalayaṃ cārunīlagalāṃtaram

Translation

He beheld Hara, whose hands grant boons and dispel fear; who bears the deer and the axe; whose ornaments are the serpent as garland and as armlets; and whose lovely throat bears the deep blue mark—Śiva, the gracious Pati who protects the bound paśu and bestows auspicious liberation.

Word by Word

• varada-abhaya-hastam: whose hands grant boons and fearlessness
• varada-abhaya-hastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक) + abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वरदः/अभयदः हस्तः यस्य)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात)

• mṛga-ṭaṅka-dharam: bearing the deer and the axe/pick (ṭaṅka)
• mṛga-ṭaṅka-dharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + ṭaṅka (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मृग-टङ्कं धारयति)

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेष्य (object of meditation/vision)

• bhujaṅga-hāra-valayam: having serpents as necklace and bracelets
• bhujaṅga-hāra-valayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhujaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (प्रातिपदिक) + valaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भुजङ्गः हारः/वलयः यस्य)

• cāru-nīla-galāntaram: with a beautiful blue throat/neck region
• cāru-nīla-galāntaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक) + nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + gala (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; समासः—कर्मधारयः (नीलम् गलान्तरम्; चारु = शोभनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana motif implied by Nīlakaṇṭha (poison held in throat).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse is a dhyāna-style description of Saguna Śiva: His varada and abhaya gestures show grace (anugraha) and protection, while the blue throat signifies compassionate mastery over poison—teaching that the Lord removes bondage and leads the soul toward liberation.

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

It supports Saguna upāsanā by giving concrete attributes for contemplation; such meditation naturally culminates in Linga-worship, where the same Śiva is adored as the all-pervading Pati beyond form, approached through a sacred emblem and mantra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-dhyāna by visualizing these marks (abhaya/varada, deer and axe, serpent ornaments, nīlakaṇṭha) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a focused japa before or during Linga-pūjā.