Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 61

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

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

ततः शिवासनं ध्यात्वा शिष्यमूर्ध्नि देशिकः । तत्रावाह्य यथान्यायमर्चयेन्मनसा शिवम्

Transliteration

tataḥ śivāsanaṃ dhyātvā śiṣyamūrdhni deśikaḥ | tatrāvāhya yathānyāyamarcayenmanasā śivam

Translation

Ensuite, le précepteur, méditant le siège de Śiva, doit le placer (en esprit) sur la tête du disciple ; puis, y invoquant Śiva selon le rite prescrit, il doit adorer le Seigneur Śiva par la pensée.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय (thereafter)

• शिवासनम्: Śiva’s seat
• शिवासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य आसनम्)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated (on)
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यात्वा (कृदन्त; √ध्यै धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) ‘having meditated’

• शिष्यमूर्ध्नि: on the disciple’s head
• शिष्यमूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिष्यस्य मूर्ध्नि) अधिकरण (locative)

• देशिकः: the teacher (officiant)
• देशिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: there)

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आवाह्य (कृदन्त; √वह् धातु, उपसर्ग: आ-)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) ‘having invoked/brought’

• यथा: according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/according to)

• न्यायम्: proper rule/rite
• न्यायम्: Karma (कर्म/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of manner: duly)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva can be approached inwardly through disciplined meditation and mental worship, and that the guru’s role is to establish the disciple in a sanctified inner seat where Śiva is invoked—highlighting grace (anugraha) and right method (nyāya) in Shaiva practice.

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

Even when external worship of the Liṅga is central, this verse emphasizes the inner counterpart: invoking Saguna Śiva within the disciple’s awareness and offering manasa-pūjā. It harmonizes outer ritual with inner realization, a key Shaiva Siddhanta balance of kriyā and jñāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A guru-guided mental rite: dhyāna of Śiva’s āsana, āvāhana (invocation) in the disciple’s head/inner space, and manasa-arcana (mental worship). This can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and focused meditation on Śiva as the indwelling Lord (Pati).