Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

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

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

देवस्य दक्षिणे शिष्यमुपवेश्यवरासने । कुशपुष्पपरिस्तीर्णे बद्धांजलिरुदङ्मुखम्

Transliteration

devasya dakṣiṇe śiṣyamupaveśyavarāsane | kuśapuṣpaparistīrṇe baddhāṃjalirudaṅmukham

Translation

Puis il fit asseoir le disciple sur un siège excellent à la droite du Seigneur, recouvert d’herbe kuśa et de fleurs; et il le fit s’asseoir tourné vers le nord, les paumes jointes en vénération.

Word by Word

• devasya: of the deity (guru/deva)
• devasya: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• dakṣiṇe: on the right (side)
• dakṣiṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; देशवाचक (locative: 'on the right side')

• śiṣyam: disciple
• śiṣyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• upaveśya: having seated
• upaveśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; उपसर्ग: उप-; अर्थ: 'having seated'

• vara-āsane: on an excellent seat
• vara-āsane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (श्रेष्ठम् आसनम्)

• kuśa-puṣpa-paristīrṇe: (seat) strewn with kuśa grass and flowers
• kuśa-puṣpa-paristīrṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + paristīrṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √stṛ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासार्थ (कुशैः पुष्पैः च परिस्तीर्णम्)

• baddha-añjaliḥ: with hands joined (in añjali)
• baddha-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: baddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √bandh) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (बद्धः अञ्जलिः यस्य)

• udaṅ-mukham: facing north
• udaṅ-mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udak (उद्/उदङ्-दिशा, प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (उदङ् मुखम् = उत्तराभिमुखम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva discipline of approaching Śiva through humility and right preparation—placing the seeker in a sanctified space and posture so the mind becomes fit for mantra, worship, and liberating knowledge (Pati’s grace removing pāśa).

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

Seating the disciple to the Lord’s right with joined palms reflects formal upacāra (reverential service) before Saguna Śiva/Liṅga worship, where purity of place, direction, and attitude supports focused devotion and receptivity to Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean āsana strewn with kuśa and flowers, sit facing north, and hold añjali (joined palms) as a preliminary to japa and dhyāna—often leading into Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) or other Śaiva mantras as taught by the guru.