Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 53

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

भक्तवत्सलमानंदं शिवमावाहयाम्यहम् । एवं ध्वात्वा शिवं साम्बमासनं परिकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

bhaktavatsalamānaṃdaṃ śivamāvāhayāmyaham | evaṃ dhvātvā śivaṃ sāmbamāsanaṃ parikalpayet

Translation

« J’invoque le Seigneur Śiva, félicité même et plein de tendresse pour ses dévots. » Ainsi, après avoir médité sur Śiva avec Ambā (Umā), on doit préparer comme il se doit un siège (āsana) pour Lui.

Word by Word

• भक्तवत्सलमानन्दम्: the blissful one who is affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलमानन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (भक्तेषु वत्सलः, आनन्दस्वरूपः)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आवाहयामि: I invoke
• आवाहयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• ध्वात्वा: having meditated (having contemplated)
• ध्वात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्वा/धौ (धातु) + त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• साम्बम्: together with Ambā (Umā)
• साम्बम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अम्बा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अम्बया सह वर्तते = with Ambā/Umā)

• आसनम्: seat
• आसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• परिकल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• परिकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative/Potential), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed mode of Śiva worship to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umapati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the pūjā-krama: dhyāna → āvāhana → āsana; promises devotional intimacy with Śiva as bhaktavatsala, culminating (in Siddhānta terms) in ripening toward anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: bhaktavatsalamānaṃdaṃ śivam āvāhayāmy aham

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ambā (Umā/Śakti)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva is inherently compassionate toward devotees (bhaktavatsala) and that true worship begins with inner invocation (āvāhana) grounded in meditative awareness of His blissful nature.

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā: one invites Śiva into worship through dhyāna and then offers an āsana—actions commonly performed before Linga-pūjā, treating the Linga as the accessible, worship-worthy presence of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dhyāna on Sāmbā Śiva (Śiva with Śakti), then do āvāhana (invocation) and offer an āsana as part of pūjā—ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).