Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

पुष्पहस्तो जपेच्छक्त्या मन्त्रं मन्त्रविशुद्धये । ऐशान्यां चण्दमाराध्य निर्माल्यं तस्य दापयेत्

Transliteration

puṣpahasto japecchaktyā mantraṃ mantraviśuddhaye | aiśānyāṃ caṇdamārādhya nirmālyaṃ tasya dāpayet

Translation

Tenant des fleurs en main, qu’il récite le mantra avec toute sa puissance intérieure, afin que le mantra soit purifié et accompli. Puis, dans la direction d’Īśāna (nord-est), après avoir vénéré comme il se doit Caṇḍa, qu’il lui offre le nirmālya, les restes consacrés de ce culte.

Word by Word

• पुष्पहस्तः: one holding a flower in hand
• पुष्पहस्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पस्य हस्तः/हस्ते पुष्पं यस्य) — व्यवहारतः ‘पुष्पं हस्ते धृतवान्’

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शक्त्या: with power/with full effort
• शक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• मन्त्रविशुद्धये: for the mantra’s purification
• मन्त्रविशुद्धये: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रस्य विशुद्धिः)

• ऐशान्याम्: the Īśāna (northeast) direction
• ऐशान्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; दिशि-नाम (name of direction)

• चण्डम्: Caṇḍa (a deity/attendant)
• चण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; देवता-नाम

• आराध्य: having propitiated
• आराध्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• निर्माल्यम्: nirmālya (used offerings)
• निर्माल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• तस्य: to him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• दापयेत्: should cause (someone) to give / should have it given
• दापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) [णिच् causative: दापय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights mantra-śuddhi and protection via propitiation of a guardian (Caṇḍa) in the Īśāna quarter—supporting safe, efficacious worship.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana
• Chanda

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-japa must be done with śakti—focused devotion and inner force—so the mantra becomes spiritually effective, and that offerings become sanctified (nirmālya) when aligned with proper Śaiva ritual order.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva-upāsanā: directionality (Īśāna), attendants/guardians like Caṇḍa, and the handling of consecrated remnants, all of which belong to temple-style Linga worship and disciplined pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform mantra-japa while holding flowers as an offering, then worship in the Īśāna (north-east) direction and respectfully offer the nirmālya (consecrated remnants) to Caṇḍa as part of the prescribed Śaiva worship sequence.