Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

चन्द्रबिम्बाभवदनं हरिवक्त्रमथापि वा । उत्तरे द्वारपार्श्वस्य भार्यां च मरुतां सुताम्

Transliteration

candrabimbābhavadanaṃ harivaktramathāpi vā | uttare dvārapārśvasya bhāryāṃ ca marutāṃ sutām

Translation

On the northern side of the doorway, one should depict (or contemplate) a consort—her face like the orb of the moon, or else like the face of Hari (Viṣṇu)—as the wife born as the daughter of the Maruts.

Word by Word

• चन्द्र-बिम्ब-आभ-वदनम्: having a face like the moon’s disc
• चन्द्र-बिम्ब-आभ-वदनम्: कर्म (Object; epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + बिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चन्द्रबिम्बस्य आभा यस्य वदनम्)

• हरि-वक्त्रम्: having Hari’s (lion/Vishnu-like) face
• हरि-वक्त्रम्: कर्म (Object; epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हरेः वक्त्रम्)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावनार्थक निपात (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन; दिशावाचक

• द्वार-पार्श्वस्य: of the doorway’s side
• द्वार-पार्श्वस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वारस्य पार्श्वम्)

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मरुताम्: of the Maruts
• मरुताम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• सुताम्: daughter
• सुताम्: कर्म (Object; apposition to bhāryām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Maruts

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ordered, reverential placement of sacred forms at the temple threshold, teaching that disciplined outer arrangement supports inner purity and steady devotion in Śiva-upāsanā.

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

By prescribing specific divine imagery near the entrance, it supports saguna modes of worship that prepare the mind to approach the Liṅga with concentration, auspiciousness, and doctrinal alignment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on auspicious divine forms while entering the shrine—mentally offering salutations at the doorway before proceeding to Liṅga-darśana—so the mind becomes calm, sattvic, and devotional.