Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

सुवर्णरत्नयुक्तानि चित्राण्यास्तरणानि च । मृदूपधानयुक्तानि सूक्ष्मतूलमयानि च

Transliteration

suvarṇaratnayuktāni citrāṇyāstaraṇāni ca | mṛdūpadhānayuktāni sūkṣmatūlamayāni ca

Translation

There were also richly decorated coverings and spreads, set with gold and gems—soft, furnished with cushions, and made of fine cotton.

Word by Word

• सुवर्ण-रत्न-युक्तानि: adorned with gold and jewels
• सुवर्ण-रत्न-युक्तानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण + रत्न + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (सुवर्णरत्नैः युक्तानि)

• चित्राणि: variegated, beautiful
• चित्राणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आस्तरणानि: coverlets/spreads
• आस्तरणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मृदु-उपधान-युक्तानि: provided with soft pillows
• मृदु-उपधान-युक्तानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु + उपधान + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (मृदुभिः उपधानैः युक्तानि)

• सूक्ष्म-तूल-मयानि: made of fine cotton
• सूक्ष्म-तूल-मयानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म + तूल + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सूक्ष्मतूलस्य मयः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the ‘rāja-upacāra’ mode of honoring Śiva—lavish yet dhārmic service (seva) as a means of accruing puṇya and cultivating devotion.

FAQs

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

It highlights the bhakti-principle of offering the best possible, pure and pleasing arrangements in a sacred setting—outer refinement reflecting inner reverence toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Such fine spreads and cushions indicate honoring Saguna Shiva through tangible, beautiful upacāras (services), where devotion is expressed via orderly, auspicious, and clean offerings around the worship-space.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean, pleasing worship area (āsana/āstaraṇa) for pūjā; then perform mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with steadiness and purity of mind.