Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

कर्पूरगौरं दिव्यांगं चन्द्रमौलिं कपर्दिनम् । व्याघ्रचर्मोत्तरीयं च गजचर्माम्बरं शुभम्

Transliteration

karpūragauraṃ divyāṃgaṃ candramauliṃ kapardinam | vyāghracarmottarīyaṃ ca gajacarmāmbaraṃ śubham

Translation

Il est blanc comme le camphre, au corps divin et rayonnant ; il porte la lune en diadème et ses cheveux sont en nattes enroulées. Il revêt une peau de tigre en manteau supérieur et une peau d’éléphant, auspicious, pour vêtement : telle est la forme sainte du Seigneur Śiva qu’il convient de contempler.

Word by Word

• कर्पूर-गौरम्: camphor-white
• कर्पूर-गौरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karpūra (प्रातिपदिक) + gaura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘कर्पूर इव गौरः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (object-description of Śiva)

• दिव्य-अङ्गम्: having a divine body
• दिव्य-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंवद्भावेन विशेषण, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चन्द्र-मौलिम्: one with the moon as crest
• चन्द्र-मौलिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—descriptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + mauli (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘चन्द्रः मौलौ यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कपर्दिनम्: the matted-haired one
• कपर्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—descriptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (as epithet)

• व्याघ्र-चर्म-उत्तरीयम्: having a tiger-skin upper garment
• व्याघ्र-चर्म-उत्तरीयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—descriptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक) + carma (प्रातिपदिक) + uttarīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): ‘व्याघ्रस्य चर्म (as) उत्तरीयम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• गज-चर्म-अम्बरम्: having elephant-hide as clothing
• गज-चर्म-अम्बरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—descriptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + carma (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘गजस्य चर्म (as) अम्बरम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of the described form)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, describing Śiva’s saguna dhyāna-form)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse gives a dhyāna-visualization of Śiva’s saguna form: camphor-like purity, the moon of cool grace, and the ascetic’s matted locks—inviting the devotee to steady the mind on Pati (Śiva) so that impurities (pāśa) are calmed and devotion matures toward liberation.

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

While liṅga worship points to the formless (niṣkala) reality of Śiva, this verse supports saguna upāsanā by providing a concrete, auspicious form for meditation; both approaches converge in Shaiva Siddhānta as means to approach the same Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-dhyāna: mentally visualize Chandramauli Śiva as described, then offer mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an inner pūjā, keeping the mind cool, pure, and one-pointed.