Shloka 100

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

जंघाद्वयेपदद्वन्द्वे द्वात्रिंशत्स्थानमुत्तमम् । अग्न्यब्भूवायुदिग्देशदिक्पालान्वसुभिः सह

Transliteration

jaṃghādvayepadadvandve dvātriṃśatsthānamuttamam | agnyabbhūvāyudigdeśadikpālānvasubhiḥ saha

Translation

In the pair of shanks and in the pair of feet is the excellent thirty-second seat. There, along with the Vasus, one should contemplate Agni, the Waters, the Earth, the Wind, the directions and regions, and the guardians of the directions.

Word by Word

• jaṅghā-dvaye: at the pair of shanks
• jaṅghā-dvaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṅghā + dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (द्वे जङ्घे)

• pada-dvandve: at the pair of feet
• pada-dvandve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (पादौ/पदे द्वे)

• dvātriṃśat-sthānam: the thirty-two places
• dvātriṃśat-sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvātriṃśat (सङ्ख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्वात्रिंशतः स्थानम् = 32-places)

• uttamam: excellent/supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'स्थाणम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• agni: Agni (fire)
• agni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपदत्वात् प्रातिपदिकरूपेण)

• ap: waters
• ap: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आपः), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपदत्वात्)

• bhū: earth
• bhū: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपदत्वात्)

• vāyu: wind
• vāyu: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपदत्वात्)

• dig-deśa: regions of the directions
• dig-deśa: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपदत्वात्); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिशां देशः)

• dik-pālān: guardians of the directions
• dik-pālān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिशां पालाः)

• vasubhiḥ: with the Vasus
• vasubhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (postposition: 'with', governs instrumental)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Vasus
• Agni
• Ap (Waters)
• Bhumi (Earth)
• Vayu
• Dikpalas

FAQs

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

It maps a “seat” in the lower limbs where the practitioner contemplates the cosmic principles—elements, directions, and their guardians—showing that all powers are ordered within Shiva’s sovereignty and can be integrated into disciplined Shaiva meditation.

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

By contemplating the elemental deities and dikpalas as subordinate powers, the devotee gathers the many into one and rests awareness in the Saguna Lord symbolized by the Linga—Shiva as Pati who pervades and governs the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A dhyana practice of nyasa-like placement: mentally locating this “seat” in the shanks/feet and contemplating Agni, Ap, Bhumi, Vayu, the directions and dikpalas with the Vasus, while maintaining Shaiva focus (optionally with japa of the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya).