Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 77

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

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

शिवागमस्य ग्रहणं वाचनं श्रवणं तथा । देशिकदेशतः कुर्यान्न स्वेच्छातो न चान्यतः

Transliteration

śivāgamasya grahaṇaṃ vācanaṃ śravaṇaṃ tathā | deśikadeśataḥ kuryānna svecchāto na cānyataḥ

Translation

La réception, la récitation et l’écoute du Śiva-Āgama doivent se faire selon la juste méthode, auprès d’un maître autorisé (deśika), dans le lieu et la lignée de transmission appropriés—ni selon son bon plaisir, ni depuis une source quelconque.

Word by Word

• शिवागमस्य: of the Śiva-āgama (Śaiva scripture)
• शिवागमस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवागम (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + आगम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य आगमः)

• ग्रहणम्: taking/receiving (study)
• ग्रहणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• वाचनम्: recitation/reading
• वाचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• श्रवणम्: hearing/listening
• श्रवणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: and likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपपद-अर्थे (also/likewise)

• देशिकदेशतः: from the teacher’s place/according to the teacher’s locale
• देशिकदेशतः: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देशिकदेश (प्रातिपदिक; देशिक + देश)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; अर्थः: देशिकस्य देशात्/देशिक-निर्दिष्ट-देशात्

• कुर्यात्: should do/should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• स्वेच्छातः: from one’s own will/at one’s whim
• स्वेच्छातः: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वेच्छा (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + इच्छा)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिकाधारित; अर्थः: स्वेच्छायाः कारणात्/स्वेच्छया

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यतः: from elsewhere/from another (source)
• अन्यतः: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; अर्थः: अन्यस्मात् (from elsewhere/another source)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Stresses that revelation (Āgama) is accessed through proper lineage and place; improper access is spiritually unfruitful and may deepen bondage through misunderstanding—hence the need for authorized transmission.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva’s revelation (Āgama) is not merely information but a sacred transmission requiring purity of method, guru-guidance, and proper context—so that practice leads to Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and liberation rather than confusion or ritual error.

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

Āgamic Linga worship depends on correct mantra, nyāsa, purification, and procedure; the verse insists these be learned through a qualified deśika so Saguna worship becomes a disciplined path that purifies the paśu (bound soul) and aligns it with Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Seek dīkṣā and instruction from an authorized Shaiva teacher before undertaking Śiva-mantra japa (including Pañcākṣarī), Tripuṇḍra/bhasma observances, and formal Āgamic pūjā—avoiding self-invented or unverified methods.