Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमः

Occasional Rites and Their Procedure

Devanagari script

श्रविष्ठाख्ये तु नक्षत्रे प्रौष्ठपद्यां ततः परम् । प्रोक्षयेच्च जलक्रीडां पूर्वाषाढाश्रये दिने

Transliteration

śraviṣṭhākhye tu nakṣatre prauṣṭhapadyāṃ tataḥ param | prokṣayecca jalakrīḍāṃ pūrvāṣāḍhāśraye dine

Translation

When the lunar mansion called Śraviṣṭhā (Dhaniṣṭhā) prevails, and thereafter on the day of Prōṣṭhapadā, one should duly perform the rite of sprinkling (prokṣaṇa) and the sacred water-sport; likewise, it should be done on a day presided over by Pūrvāṣāḍhā.

Word by Word

• śraviṣṭhā: Śraviṣṭhā
• śraviṣṭhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraviṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First member in compound; nakṣatra-name (Dhaniṣṭhā)

• ākhye: called
• ākhye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga/locative form used in compound; 'named/called'

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• nakṣatre: in the nakṣatra called Śraviṣṭhā
• nakṣatre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa 'śraviṣṭhākhya-nakṣatra' = in the nakṣatra called Śraviṣṭhā

• prauṣṭhapadyām: in (the nakṣatra) Bhādrapadā
• prauṣṭhapadyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prauṣṭhapadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (nakṣatra-name), Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa name 'prauṣṭha + padī' (Bhādrapadā)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb 'thereafter'

• param: next/after that
• param: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), accusative neuter singular functioning as avyaya: 'afterwards/next'

• prokṣayet: should sprinkle
• prokṣayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√ukṣ (धातु)
• Form: Verb with upasarga pra-; Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, parasmaipada; meaning 'should sprinkle'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• jalakrīḍām: water-play (rite)
• jalakrīḍām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala-krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa 'jala + krīḍā' = water-sport/water-play (rite)

• pūrvāṣāḍhā: Pūrvāṣāḍhā
• pūrvāṣāḍhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrvāṣāḍhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First member in compound; nakṣatra-name; tatpuruṣa name 'pūrvā + āṣāḍhā'

• āśraye: based on/under the influence of
• āśraye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative qualifier in compound; 'resting in/depending on'

• dine: on the day
• dine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa 'pūrvāṣāḍhā-āśraya-dina' = on the day associated with Pūrvāṣāḍhā

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General festival/rite instruction: prokṣaṇa (sprinkling for purification) and jalakrīḍā (festive sacred water-play) on specified nakṣatra days, suggesting temple utsava culture rather than a single locale.

Significance: Purificatory sprinkling and water-festivities renew sanctity and communal devotion; symbolically cool and stabilize the embodied world—an expression of Śiva’s sustaining presence.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Shiva is strengthened by disciplined observance—aligning purification and water-rites with auspicious times to steady the mind and make worship fit for receiving Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

The sprinkling (prokṣaṇa) and water-rite point to Linga-upāsanā through abhiṣeka and ritual purity, honoring Saguna Shiva as the accessible, worshipful form through which the devotee approaches the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform prokṣaṇa (sanctifying sprinkling) and a water-based rite akin to abhiṣeka on the specified nakṣatra days; accompany it with Shiva-mantra japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) for inner purification.