Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56

Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama

Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple

Devanagari script

अभिषिंचेत देवेशं ध्यायन्हृदि यथाक्रमम् । अथोपवेश्य तं शिष्यं शिवमभ्यर्च्य पूर्ववत्

Transliteration

abhiṣiṃceta deveśaṃ dhyāyanhṛdi yathākramam | athopaveśya taṃ śiṣyaṃ śivamabhyarcya pūrvavat

Translation

Méditant en son cœur, pas à pas selon l’ordre prescrit, il doit accomplir l’abhiṣeka du Seigneur des dieux. Puis, faisant asseoir ce disciple, il doit adorer de nouveau le Seigneur Śiva, comme auparavant.

Word by Word

• अभिषिञ्चेत: should anoint/sprinkle
• अभिषिञ्चेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• देव-ईशम्: the Lord of gods
• देव-ईशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृदि: in (his) heart
• हृदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• यथा-क्रमम्: in proper sequence
• यथा-क्रमम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb): ‘in due order’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conj./particle): अनन्तर (then)

• उपवेश्य: having seated
• उपवेश्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having seated’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिष्यम्: disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having worshipped’

• पूर्ववत्: as previously
• पूर्ववत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘as before’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It joins inner contemplation (hṛd-dhyāna) with outer ritual (abhiṣeka and arcana), teaching that Śiva is approached through ordered practice where devotion and disciplined procedure mature the soul (paśu) toward Śiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).

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

Abhiṣeka and abhyarcana are hallmark acts of Liṅga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship: the devotee honors Śiva’s manifest form through water-offering and formal pūjā, while simultaneously holding Śiva inwardly through meditation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A sequential Shiva-pūjā: meditate on Śiva in the heart, perform abhiṣeka, then seat the disciple and repeat worship ‘as before’—implying adherence to the established pūjā-vidhi, typically supported by mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī: Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna.