Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

उशीरं चन्दनं चैव पाद्ये तु परिकल्पयेत् । जातिकंकोलकर्पूरबहुमूलतमालकान्

Transliteration

uśīraṃ candanaṃ caiva pādye tu parikalpayet | jātikaṃkolakarpūrabahumūlatamālakān

Translation

Pour l’offrande d’eau de lavage des pieds (pādya), qu’on la prépare avec uśīra (vétiver) et bois de santal; en y ajoutant jasmin, kankola, camphre, de nombreuses racines aromatiques et des feuilles de tamālaka, afin que le service rendu à Śiva soit raffiné, pur et plein de bhakti.

Word by Word

• उशीरम्: vetiver (uśīra)
• उशीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चन्दनम्: sandalwood
• चन्दनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (indeed/just)

• पाद्ये: in the foot-washing water
• पाद्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: and/but (indeed)
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात

• परिकल्पयेत्: should prepare, should arrange
• परिकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन (one should prepare/arrange)

• जाति: of jasmine (jāti)
• जाति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचन (Genitive) समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• कंकोल: cubeb/tailed pepper (kaṅkola)
• कंकोल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंकोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (समासमध्यपद)

• कर्पूर: camphor
• कर्पूर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (समासमध्यपद)

• बहुमूल: many-rooted (a fragrant root)
• बहुमूल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: बहूनि मूलानि यस्य/बहुमूलम्; प्रातिपदिक (समासमध्यपद)

• तमालकान्: tamālaka (trees/leaves)
• तमालकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; पूर्वपदानां समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमासस्य उत्तरपद (list ending in tamālaka)

• जातिकंकोलकर्पूरबहुमूलतमालकान्: jāti, kaṅkola, camphor, bahumūla, and tamālaka (items)
• जातिकंकोलकर्पूरबहुमूलतमालकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति + कंकोल + कर्पूर + बहुमूल + तमालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास (enumerative compound); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मपदम् (objects to be prepared/added)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the upacāra of pādya as bhakti expressed through refinement (saukumārya) and purity; strengthens the devotee’s disciplined service (sevā) that Śaiva Siddhānta treats as a limb of caryā/kriyā leading toward yoga/jñāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion (bhakti) should be expressed through purity, fragrance, and careful preparation of offerings—external cleanliness supporting inner reverence toward Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord.

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

Pādya is an upacāra (ritual service) offered to Saguna Śiva—honoring Him as the ever-present Lord approachable through loving service, even while He is ultimately beyond attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare pādya water infused with uśīra, sandalwood, jasmine, camphor and other aromatics, and offer it with a focused mind—ideally while remembering Śiva through japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).