Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

भूषणानि पवित्राणि माल्यानि विविधानि च । व्यजने चामरे छत्रं तालवृंतं च दर्पणम्

Transliteration

bhūṣaṇāni pavitrāṇi mālyāni vividhāni ca | vyajane cāmare chatraṃ tālavṛṃtaṃ ca darpaṇam

Translation

Des ornements purs, des guirlandes de diverses sortes; des éventails et le cāmara (chasse-mouches en queue de yak), un parasol; un manche d’éventail en feuille de palmier et un miroir—tout cela doit être offert ou disposé comme objets propices du culte.

Word by Word

• भूषणानि: ornaments
• भूषणानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन

• पवित्राणि: pure; sacred
• पवित्राणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of भूषणानि)

• माल्यानि: garlands
• माल्यानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of माल्यानि)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• व्यजने: fan (for fanning)
• व्यजने: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (व्यजनम्; पाठभेदे ‘व्यजने’ इति)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• अमरे: yak-tail whisk (cāmara)
• अमरे: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (चामरम्; पाठभेदे ‘अमरे’ इति)

• छत्रम्: umbrella
• छत्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ताल-वृन्तम्: palm-stalk/handle (palm-leaf fan handle)
• ताल-वृन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + वृन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तालस्य वृन्तम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• दर्पणम्: mirror
• दर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Alaṅkāra and sevā-upacāras (garlands, fans, parasol, mirror) cultivate continuous remembrance and honor (satkāra) of Śiva as the indwelling Lord, supporting the devotee’s purification from pāśa.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights upacāra (devotional services) offered to Shiva in Saguna worship—external purity and beauty are used to steady the mind in reverence, leading the devotee toward inner purification and grace.

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

These items are classic honorific offerings (garlands, fan, cāmara, parasol, mirror) used to treat Shiva—especially the Linga—as the living Lord present in the icon, strengthening bhakti and attentive ritual presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-puja with orderly upacāras while mentally repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), letting each offering become an inward act of surrender and concentration.