Shloka 20

अग्नियज्ञ-देवयज्ञ-ब्रह्मयज्ञ-गुरुपूजा-क्रमनिरूपणम् / Ordering and Definitions of Agniyajña, Devayajña, Brahmayajña, and Guru-Pūjā

Devanagari script

वारेशान्कल्पयित्वादौ ज्योतिश्चक्रेप्रतिष्ठितान् । स्वस्ववारे तु तेषां तु पूजा स्वस्वफलप्रदा

Transliteration

vāreśānkalpayitvādau jyotiścakrepratiṣṭhitān | svasvavāre tu teṣāṃ tu pūjā svasvaphalapradā

Translation

After first fashioning the Lords of the weekdays (Vāreśas) and establishing them in the Wheel of Lights (jyoti-cakra), their worship on their respective days bestows the particular fruit belonging to each.

Word by Word

• वार-ईशान्: lords of the weekdays
• वार-ईशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Accusative plural)

• कल्पयित्वा: having arranged
• कल्पयित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कल्पय्/कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) from causative ‘कल्पयति’; ‘having arranged/created’

• आदौ: at first/initially
• आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (locative used adverbially)

• ज्योतिः-चक्रे: in the circle of lights (zodiac/astral circle)
• ज्योतिः-चक्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• प्रतिष्ठितान्: placed/established
• प्रतिष्ठितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• स्व-स्व-वारे: on each one’s own weekday
• स्व-स्व-वारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular); ‘each one’s own day’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle); विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• स्व-स्व-फल-प्रदा: granting their respective fruits
• स्व-स्व-फल-प्रदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘giving each one’s own result’ (qualifies पूजा)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse’s jyoti-cakra (wheel of lights) resonates with Kāśī’s portrayal of Viśveśvara as the regulator of time (kāla) and its divisions (vāra), with weekday-lords functioning under his sovereignty.

Significance: Observing weekday worship (vāra-vrata/archana) is framed as harmonizing one’s karmic timing; in Kāśī this is ultimately subordinated to Śiva-bhakti as the highest purifier.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that cosmic order is reflected in time itself: when worship is aligned with sacred timing (one’s proper weekday and its presiding power), the intended spiritual and worldly results arise in an orderly way under Shiva’s overarching lordship.

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

Weekday worship functions as a regulated form of Saguna devotion within Shiva’s cosmos; performed with Shiva as the supreme Pati, such observances become supportive limbs to Linga-worship and disciplined bhakti rather than independent ends.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform day-specific pūjā on the corresponding weekday—ideally anchored in Shaiva practice such as offering to Shiva (Linga) with mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara) and simple observances like cleanliness, fasting or restraint, and focused devotion.