Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 70

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

गायत्र्या वा नमोंतैश्च नामभिः प्रणवादिभिः । मंत्रैवाथागमोक्तैश्च जलधारादिकं तथा

Transliteration

gāyatryā vā namoṃtaiśca nāmabhiḥ praṇavādibhiḥ | maṃtraivāthāgamoktaiśca jaladhārādikaṃ tathā

Translation

La jaladhārā et les autres actes de culte peuvent être accomplis avec la Gāyatrī, avec des formules de salutation en « namo- », avec les Noms divins commençant par le Praṇava (Oṃ), ou avec les mantras prescrits dans les Āgamas.

Word by Word

• gāyatryā: by (the) Gāyatrī (mantra)
• gāyatryā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karaṇa (means)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa (विकल्प) disjunctive particle

• namaḥ-uktaiḥ: with ‘namaḥ’ utterances
• namaḥ-uktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात) + ukta (कृदन्त, √vac)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); ‘namaḥ’ iti uktaiḥ (with utterances of “namaḥ”)

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

• nāmabhiḥ: with names
• nāmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• praṇava-ādibhiḥ: beginning with Praṇava (Oṃ), etc.
• praṇava-ādibhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); nāmabhiḥ-viśeṣaṇa (qualifier)

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/भावबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (अवधारण)

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/भावबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Krama-nipāta (क्रमसूचक निपात)

• āgama-uktaiḥ: taught in the Āgamas
• āgama-uktaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त, √vac)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); mantraiḥ-viśeṣaṇa (qualifier)

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

• jala-dhārā-ādikam: water-stream etc. (rites)
• jala-dhārā-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ‘ādi’ = etc.; contextually karma (object) of implied kriyā (to be performed)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय), adverb

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the Śiva-worship procedure to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Affirms mantra-pluralism: Gāyatrī, namo-formulas, praṇava-led divine names, and specifically Āgama-prescribed mantras may all accompany jaladhārā and related rites—explicitly integrating Āgamic authority.

Significance: Validates temple-style Āgamic worship alongside Vedic mantras; encourages devotees that correct intention and authorized mantra (Veda/Āgama) both conduce to Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Gāyatrī is referenced, not quoted)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Pati (Śiva) can be expressed through multiple authorized mantra-paths—Gāyatrī, “namaḥ” salutations, divine Names, Praṇava (Oṃ), and Āgamic mantras—showing that sincerity and correct orientation toward Śiva are central to grace and purification.

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

The verse points to abhiṣeka-like worship (jaladhārā) performed with mantra and Names, which is a classic Saguna mode of approaching Śiva in the Liṅga, where sound (mantra) and offering (water-stream) together sanctify the mind and the ritual space.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform jaladhārā/abhiṣeka and allied upacāras while chanting Oṃ and “namaḥ”-ending formulas, Śiva-nāmas, or Āgamic mantras—especially suitable for daily worship and Mahāśivarātri observance.