Shloka 46

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

कृष्णाष्टम्यां नवम्यां वामायां वा पंचदिक्तिथौ । पूजयेज्जगतां धात्रीं गंधपुष्पैर्विशेषतः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṃ navamyāṃ vāmāyāṃ vā paṃcadiktithau | pūjayejjagatāṃ dhātrīṃ gaṃdhapuṣpairviśeṣataḥ

Translation

Au huitième jour de la quinzaine sombre (Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī), au neuvième, ou au tithi Vāmā—et, en vérité, aux tithis fastes des cinq directions—qu’on adore la Mère divine, Soutien des mondes, surtout avec des substances parfumées et des fleurs.

Word by Word

• कृष्ण-अष्टम्याम्: on the dark-fortnight eighth (Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī)
• कृष्ण-अष्टम्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (कृष्णा अष्टमी)

• नवम्याम्: on the ninth (tithi)
• नवम्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वामायाम्: on (the tithi called) Vāmā
• वामायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (तिथिविशेष-नाम)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• पञ्च-दिक्-तिथौ: on the Pañcadik-tithi (tithi associated with five directions)
• पञ्च-दिक्-तिथौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चानां दिशां तिथिः)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• धात्रीम्: the sustainer/mother (goddess)
• धात्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• गन्ध-पुष्पैः: with fragrant flowers
• गन्ध-पुष्पैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गन्धयुक्तानि पुष्पाणि)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb) ‘-तः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Observance of specified tithis and offering of gandha-puṣpa is framed as a śāstric upāya for gaining Devī’s prasāda (grace) and purification of the bound soul (paśu).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights that devotion expressed through simple, sattvic offerings—fragrance and flowers—on specific tithis becomes a focused act of reverence to Jagad-dhātrī (the world-sustaining Divine Mother), supporting purity of mind and steady bhakti within a Shaiva framework.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Shiva (Pati) and Shakti are inseparable; honoring the Divine Mother on auspicious tithis complements Saguna worship, just as Linga-puja honors Shiva’s accessible form while recognizing the deeper, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Devi-puja on Krishna Ashtami or Navami using gandha (fragrant substances) and pushpa (flowers), maintaining devotional focus; optionally accompany the worship with Shaiva remembrance such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as an inner support.