Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

अर्धनारीश्वरप्रादुर्भावः

Manifestation of Ardhanārīśvara and the Impulse for Procreative Creation

Devanagari script

तदाद्या परमा शक्तिरनंता लोकभाविनी । आद्या सूक्ष्मतरा शुद्धा भावगम्या मनोहरा

Transliteration

tadādyā paramā śaktiranaṃtā lokabhāvinī | ādyā sūkṣmatarā śuddhā bhāvagamyā manoharā

Translation

Elle est la Primordiale, la Puissance suprême (Śakti) : infinie, source d’où naissent les mondes. Originelle, plus subtile que le plus subtil, pure ; elle se connaît par la réalisation intérieure et charme le regard.

Word by Word

• तदाद्या: that primordial
• तदाद्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (of शक्ति); समास: तदाद्या = “beginning with/that first” (contextual epithet)

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (of शक्ति)

• शक्तिः: power/Śakti
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अनन्ता: endless
• अनन्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (of शक्ति)

• लोकभाविनी: world-producing
• लोकभाविनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + भाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (of शक्ति); समास: लोकभाविनी = “bringing forth/producing the worlds”

• आद्या: primordial
• आद्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (of शक्ति)

• सूक्ष्मतरा: subtler
• सूक्ष्मतरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative): “subtler”

• शुद्धा: pure
• शुद्धा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भावगम्या: attainable by inner feeling
• भावगम्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव + गम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; गम्य = यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (fit to be reached/known); समास: भावगम्या = “knowable through inner feeling/devotion”

• मनोहरा: enchanting
• मनोहरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; समास: मनोहरा = “mind-stealing/charming”

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic emergence of worlds (loka-bhāvanā)

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Śakti as beginningless and infinite, the subtle pure power through which the worlds are manifested, and teaches that she is realized not merely by intellect but by bhāva—inner contemplative insight aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

In Linga and Saguna Shiva worship, devotees approach Shiva together with his inseparable Śakti—the manifesting power behind form and grace. The verse supports this by describing Śakti as the primal, world-producing principle that is spiritually apprehended through devotion and inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The phrase bhāvagamyā points to meditation and devotion: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inward contemplation on the subtle, pure Śakti of Shiva, supported by Shaiva disciplines such as bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa where practiced.