Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama

Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple

Devanagari script

देवानां जातयश्चाष्टौ तिरश्चां पञ्च जातयः । जात्यैकया च मानुष्या योनयश्च चतुर्दश

Transliteration

devānāṃ jātayaścāṣṭau tiraścāṃ pañca jātayaḥ | jātyaikayā ca mānuṣyā yonayaśca caturdaśa

Translation

Il existe huit classes d’êtres divins et cinq classes d’animaux. Les humains ne forment qu’une seule classe ; ainsi, les matrices d’existence (yoni), sources de naissance, sont au nombre de quatorze au total.

Word by Word

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन (plural)

• जातयः: classes / species
• जातयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक) पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) / सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण to जातयः

• तिरश्चाम्: of animals (non-human beings)
• तिरश्चाम्: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिरश्च् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन (plural)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचनार्थ (plural sense); विशेषण to जातयः

• जातयः: classes / species
• जातयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• जाति-एकया: by one (single) class
• जाति-एकया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + एका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन (singular); ‘by/with one class’; विशेषण/निर्देशक to मानुष्या

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• मानुष्या: humans (the human class)
• मानुष्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); ‘human (class)’

• योनयः: wombs / origins
• योनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचनार्थ (plural sense); विशेषण to योनयः

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya in the Vayu Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

FAQs

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

It frames embodiment as graded classes of birth (yonis), implying that the bound soul (paśu) moves through these states by karma and ignorance, and that liberation comes by turning toward Pati—Lord Shiva—through right knowledge and devotion.

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

By highlighting the cycle of births, it indirectly points to the remedy taught in the Shiva Purana: worship of Saguna Shiva—especially the Shiva Linga with mantra, purity, and devotion—which purifies bonds (pāśa) and leads the soul toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Linga-abhiṣeka and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) observance, offered with ethical living—aimed at weakening karmic tendencies that propel repeated births.