Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

शिवाचार्याभिषेकविधिः / Rite of Consecrating a Śiva-Teacher (Śivācārya Abhiṣeka)

Devanagari script

अथवा मंत्रसंस्कारमनुचिंत्याखिलं क्रमात् । अध्वशुद्धिं गुरुः कुर्यादभिषेकावसानिकम्

Transliteration

athavā maṃtrasaṃskāramanuciṃtyākhilaṃ kramāt | adhvaśuddhiṃ guruḥ kuryādabhiṣekāvasānikam

Translation

Ou bien, après avoir médité avec soin, dans l’ordre prescrit, toute la consécration (saṃskāra) du mantra, le Guru doit accomplir la purification des adhvan (voies rituelles et cosmiques), en la concluant par le rite d’abhiṣeka (ablution sacrée).

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (Disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• मन्त्र-संस्कारम्: mantra-consecration
• मन्त्र-संस्कारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मन्त्रस्य संस्कारः (consecration/refinement of the mantra)

• अनुचिन्त्य: having reflected upon
• अनुचिन्त्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; धातु: चिन्त् (चिन्तने) with उपसर्ग अनु

• अखिलम्: entire, complete
• अखिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘मन्त्रसंस्कारम्’)

• क्रमात्: in due order, sequentially
• क्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (Instrumental used adverbially): ‘in order/step by step’

• अध्व-शुद्धिम्: purification of the adhvan
• अध्व-शुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: अध्वस्य शुद्धिः (purification of the adhvan)

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: कृ (करणे)

• अभिषेक-अवसानिकम्: ending with the abhiṣeka
• अभिषेक-अवसानिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक) + अवसानिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘अध्वशुद्धिम्’ by sense: ‘ending with abhiṣeka’); तत्पुरुषः: अभिषेकः अवसानम् यस्य/यत्र (having abhiṣeka as the conclusion)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra becomes spiritually effective through proper saṃskāra under a Guru, and that inner and cosmic purification (adhva-śuddhi) culminates in abhiṣeka—symbolizing grace (anugraha) and readiness for Shiva-realization.

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

Abhiṣeka is a primary Saguna Shiva practice centered on the Linga; here it is presented as the concluding seal of mantra-rite and purification, uniting ritual worship with the deeper Shaiva Siddhanta aim of cleansing pasha (bondage) through guru-led discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A Guru-led sequence of mantra-saṃskāra and adhva-śuddhi, completed by Shiva-abhiṣeka—practically expressed as disciplined japa with proper initiation and a concluding abhiṣeka offering (water, milk, etc.) as per tradition.