Shloka 48

शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्

Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship

Devanagari script

शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं प्रसन्नं शीतलद्युतिम् । विद्युद्वलयसंकाशं जटामुकुटभूषितम्

Transliteration

śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ prasannaṃ śītaladyutim | vidyudvalayasaṃkāśaṃ jaṭāmukuṭabhūṣitam

Translation

Il apparut tel un cristal d’une pureté parfaite—serein, gracieux, répandant une splendeur fraîche et apaisante; orné d’une couronne de jata (mèches emmêlées) et resplendissant comme un cercle d’éclair.

Word by Word

• śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśam: like pure crystal
• śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied ‘sadāśivam/devam’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha+sphaṭika+saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (determinative): śuddha-sphaṭika-saṃkāśa ‘having the appearance of pure crystal’

• prasannam: serene/bright
• prasannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक; प्र+√sad प्रसादे)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śītaladyutim: cool-radiant
• śītaladyutim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śītala+dyuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: śītala-dyuti ‘having cool radiance’

• vidyudvalayasaṃkāśam: like a lightning-ring
• vidyudvalayasaṃkāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut+valaya+saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: vidyut-valaya-saṃkāśa ‘like a ring/bracelet of lightning’

• jaṭāmukuṭabhūṣitam: adorned with a crown of matted hair
• jaṭāmukuṭabhūṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā+mukuṭa+bhūṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √bhūṣ अलङ्कारे)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Past participle (क्त): bhūṣita ‘adorned’; Tatpuruṣa: jaṭā-mukuṭa ‘matted-hair crown’ (instrument/means of adornment)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the vision/description of Shiva as transmitted in the Purana)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Saguna Shiva as the compassionate, approachable Lord whose cool, crystal-like radiance pacifies agitation and purifies the bound soul (paśu), preparing it for grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

Such iconographic qualities—serenity, luminous aura, and the jata-mukuta—support Saguna upasana and dhyana. In Shaiva practice, the same Shiva is worshipped in the Linga as the stable focus of presence, while form-descriptions guide inner visualization and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s शांत (peaceful) form with cool radiance while repeating the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and contemplate his jata-mukuta as the symbol of yogic mastery and transcendence.