Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

सौवर्णं राजतं वापि ताम्रजं मृन्मयं तु वा । गन्धपुष्पाक्षताकीर्णं कुशदूर्वांकुराचितम्

Transliteration

sauvarṇaṃ rājataṃ vāpi tāmrajaṃ mṛnmayaṃ tu vā | gandhapuṣpākṣatākīrṇaṃ kuśadūrvāṃkurācitam

Translation

Qu’il soit d’or, d’argent, de cuivre ou même d’argile : qu’on le parsème de parfums, de fleurs et de riz intact (akṣata), et qu’on l’orne d’herbe kuśa et de jeunes pousses fraîches de dūrvā ; ainsi devient-il digne du culte de Śiva.

Word by Word

• सौवर्णम्: made of gold
• सौवर्णम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण (adjective)

• राजतम्: made of silver
• राजतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Coordination/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: समुच्चय (Coordination/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• ताम्र-जम्: made of copper
• ताम्र-जम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त/तद्धित; √जन् (धातु) → ‘born/produced from’)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ताम्रात् जातम्)

• मृन्-मयम्: made of clay
• मृन्-मयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृद्/मृन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (तद्धित प्रत्यय -मय)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तद्धितान्त विशेषण (-मय = ‘made of’); समासवत् प्रयोगः

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (particle ‘but/indeed’)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात

• गन्ध-पुष्प-अक्षत-आकीर्णम्: strewn with fragrance, flowers, and unbroken rice grains
• गन्ध-पुष्प-अक्षत-आकीर्णम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक) + आकीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कॄ/कीर् (धातु) उपसर्ग आ-)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; कृदन्त-विशेषण: आकीर्ण (PPP/क्त) = ‘strewn/filled’; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गन्धपुष्पाक्षतैः आकीर्णम्)

• कुश-दूर्वा-अङ्कुर-आचितम्: covered with kuśa and dūrvā sprouts
• कुश-दूर्वा-अङ्कुर-आचितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आचित (कृदन्त; √चि (धातु) उपसर्ग आ-)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; कृदन्त-विशेषण: आचित (PPP/क्त) = ‘heaped/covered’; समासः तत्पुरुषः (कुशदूर्वाङ्कुरैः आचितम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva accepts worship based on purity and devotion (bhakti), not on the cost of the vessel—gold, silver, copper, or simple clay all become sacred when offered with reverence and auspicious items.

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

It describes practical upacāras (ritual offerings) used in saguna worship—adorning the worship-place or vessel for Śiva with gandha, flowers, akṣata, kuśa, and dūrvā—supporting focused devotion toward the Liṅga as Śiva’s gracious, worshipful form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean worship vessel or altar (even earthen), then offer fragrance, flowers, akṣata, and kuśa/dūrvā as auspicious supports for puja; while offering, keep a steady mind and inwardly remember Śiva (commonly with the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).