Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 67

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

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

अथ गुर्वाज्ञया शिष्यः शिवाग्निगुरुसन्निधौ । भक्त्यैवमभिसंधाय दीक्षावाक्यमुदीरयेत्

Transliteration

atha gurvājñayā śiṣyaḥ śivāgnigurusannidhau | bhaktyaivamabhisaṃdhāya dīkṣāvākyamudīrayet

Translation

Alors, sur l'ordre du Gourou, le disciple, se tenant en présence de Shiva, du feu sacré et du précepteur, ayant formé son intention avec dévotion, doit prononcer solennellement les paroles d'initiation.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक/अनन्तरार्थक (indeclinable; sequential particle “then/now”)

• गुरु-आज्ञया: by the guru’s command
• गुरु-आज्ञया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘गुरोः आज्ञया’ (by the guru’s command)

• शिष्यः: the disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शिव-अग्नि-गुरु-सन्निधौ: in the presence of Śiva, the fire, and the guru
• शिव-अग्नि-गुरु-सन्निधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner “thus”)

• अभिसंधाय: having intended/with resolve
• अभिसंधाय: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-सम्-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘अभिसंधाय’ = having resolved/intent on; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• दीक्षा-वाक्यम्: the initiation formula/statement
• दीक्षा-वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• उदीरयेत्: should utter/recite
• उदीरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: null

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It establishes dīkṣā as a disciplined, grace-bearing entry into Śaiva practice: the disciple aligns will and devotion under the guru’s authority, in Śiva’s presence, so that bondage (pāśa) begins to loosen through right initiation.

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

By placing the disciple “in the presence of Śiva,” it frames initiation as worship before Saguna Śiva (often approached through the Liṅga in ritual space), where the guru and sacred fire sanctify the disciple’s readiness to serve and contemplate Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A formal Shaiva dīkṣā setting is indicated: standing near the consecrated fire with the guru, forming a devotional intention (saṅkalpa/abhisandhi), and reciting the initiation formula—typically connected with mantra-upadeśa such as the Pañcākṣarī.