Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 61

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

उद्वासने कृते यस्माच्चण्डभस्म प्रजापते । अग्निकार्ये कृते पश्चाच्छिवशास्त्रोक्तमार्गतः

Transliteration

udvāsane kṛte yasmāccaṇḍabhasma prajāpate | agnikārye kṛte paścācchivaśāstroktamārgataḥ

Translation

When the dismissal (udvāsana) has been performed, then—O Prajāpati—after the fire-rite is completed, one should proceed thereafter in the manner taught in the Śiva-śāstra, applying the consecrated ash (bhasma) according to that prescribed path.

Word by Word

• udvāsane: in/at the dismissal (rite)
• udvāsane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udvāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛte: done/performed
• kṛte: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with udvāsane (locative absolute-like)

• yasmāt: from which/because
• yasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• caṇḍa-bhasma: the potent ash
• caṇḍa-bhasma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhasma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘fierce/strong ash’

• prajāpate: O Prajāpati
• prajāpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• agni-kārye: in the fire-ritual
• agni-kārye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘in the fire-rite’

• kṛte: having been done
• kṛte: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with agni-kārye

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• śiva-śāstra-ukta-mārgataḥ: according to the path taught in Śiva’s scripture
• śiva-śāstra-ukta-mārgataḥ: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac वच् + क्त) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + -tas (तस्)
• Form: Ablatival adverb in -tas (तसिल्/तस्), ‘according to/from the path stated in Śiva-śāstra’; internal tatpuruṣa chain

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: homa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prajapati
• Agni

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śaiva worship is completed through orderly closure—udvāsana and the fire-rite—followed by the Śiva-śāstra method of applying sacred ash, a sign of surrender to Pati (Śiva) and purification of the pashu (individual soul) from pasha (bondage).

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

After formal worship and offerings, the devotee seals the practice through Śaiva injunctions—especially bhaṣma—marking the body as a temple of Saguna Śiva and keeping remembrance of the Linga’s sanctity beyond the ritual moment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform udvāsana (respectful conclusion), complete agni-kārya (homa/offerings), and then apply consecrated bhaṣma as taught in Śiva-śāstra (commonly as Tripuṇḍra), maintaining inward Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance).