Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 46

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

प्रथमावरणे पूज्यो क्रमाद्धेरम्बषण्मुखौ । ब्रह्मांगानि ततश्चैव प्रथमावरणेर्चिते

Transliteration

prathamāvaraṇe pūjyo kramāddherambaṣaṇmukhau | brahmāṃgāni tataścaiva prathamāvaraṇercite

Translation

Dans la première enceinte (āvaraṇa), on doit vénérer, selon l’ordre prescrit, Heramba (Gaṇeśa) et Ṣaṇmukha (Kārttikeya). Ensuite, dans cette même première enceinte, il convient aussi d’adorer les membres, c’est-à-dire les aspects assistants, de Brahmā.

Word by Word

• प्रथम-आवरणे: in the first enclosure
• प्रथम-आवरणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Neuter, Locative Singular); तत्पुरुष: ‘in the first enclosure/āvaraṇa’

• पूज्यः: is to be worshipped
• पूज्यः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (विधेय/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक) < पूज् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive): ‘to be worshipped’

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (ablative used adverbially): ‘in order/stepwise’

• हेरम्ब-षण्मुखौ: Heramba and Ṣaṇmukha
• हेरम्ब-षण्मुखौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेरम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + षण्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative Dual); द्वन्द्व-समास: हेरम्ब + षण्मुख

• ब्रह्म-अङ्गानि: the limbs/parts of Brahmā
• ब्रह्म-अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Plural); तत्पुरुष: ‘limbs/parts of Brahmā’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kālādhi-karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• प्रथम-आवरणे: in the first enclosure
• प्रथम-आवरणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Neuter, Locative Singular); तत्पुरुष: ‘in the first enclosure’

• अर्चिते: after being worshipped
• अर्चिते: Kālādhi-karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्चित (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक) < अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे सम्भवम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used locatively: ‘when/after (it is) worshipped’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Āvaraṇa-pūjā begins with Gaṇeśa and Skanda as threshold deities; this stabilizes the worshipper’s intention and removes ritual impediments before approaching the central Śiva-tattva.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Kartikeya
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship is perfected through right order (krama): first removing obstacles and stabilizing devotion by honoring Gaṇeśa and Skanda, then harmonizing the cosmic functions represented by Brahmā’s attendant aspects, before proceeding to deeper worship.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship (including Liṅga-pūjā), the avaraṇa-krama prepares the sacred space and the worshipper’s mind; venerating Shiva’s divine family and associated cosmic powers supports focused devotion to the Liṅga as the central presence of Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow a structured pūjā: begin with Gaṇeśa and Skanda in the first enclosure, then worship the associated deities/aspects in sequence; accompany it with steady japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to keep attention anchored and free from obstacles.