Shloka 116

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

सोमस्कंदस्य च स्थानं तृतीयं मंडपं परम् । द्वितीयं मंडपं नृत्यमंडपं प्राहुरास्तिकाः

Transliteration

somaskaṃdasya ca sthānaṃ tṛtīyaṃ maṃḍapaṃ param | dvitīyaṃ maṃḍapaṃ nṛtyamaṃḍapaṃ prāhurāstikāḥ

Translation

The third, supreme pavilion (maṇḍapa) is declared to be the sacred station of Somāskanda. The faithful also proclaim that the second pavilion is the Nṛtya-maṇḍapa, the Pavilion of Dance.

Word by Word

• सोमस्कन्दस्य: of Soma-Skanda
• सोमस्कन्दस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमस्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सोमस्य स्कन्दः / सोम-स्कन्दः)

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

• स्थानम्: place; shrine
• स्थानम्: विधेय-नाम (predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (context: predicate nominative)

• तृतीयम्: third
• तृतीयम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मण्डपम्: hall; pavilion
• मण्डपम्: विधेय-नाम (apposition to sthānam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme; excellent
• परम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्वितीयम्: second
• द्वितीयम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मण्डपम्: hall
• मण्डपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नृत्य-मण्डपम्: dance-hall
• नृत्य-मण्डपम्: कर्म-समानााधिकरण/विधेय (object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत्य + मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष (नृत्यस्य मण्डपः)

• प्राहुः: they have said; they call
• प्राहुः: क्रिया (verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• आस्तिकाः: the orthodox/faithful people
• आस्तिकाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Within the Viśveśvara-kṣetra description, the temple’s mandapa-sequence is mapped as graded access to Śiva’s presence: outer halls culminate in the supreme pavilion associated with Somāskanda, preparing the devotee for the inner liṅga-darśana of Viśveśvara.

Significance: Darśana in the graded mandapas is framed as a progressive purification and ripening of bhakti culminating in Viśveśvara’s grace-bestowing presence.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kartikeya
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It maps sacred space as a graded approach to Shiva: moving through consecrated maṇḍapas culminates in the supreme station of Somāskanda, emphasizing Saguna devotion as a doorway to Shiva’s liberating grace.

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

By naming specific maṇḍapas—especially the Nṛtya-maṇḍapa and the Somāskanda-sthāna—the verse highlights temple-based Saguna upāsanā, where devotees encounter Shiva’s manifest forms (dance, family-form) as supports for concentration and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is maṇḍapa-pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) with mindful remembrance of Shiva—optionally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—treating each pavilion as a step in inner recollection and devotion.