Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

गुडखंडन्वितं दद्यान्मथितं दधि चोत्तमम् । भक्ष्याण्यपूपमुख्यानि स्वादुमंति फलानि च

Transliteration

guḍakhaṃḍanvitaṃ dadyānmathitaṃ dadhi cottamam | bhakṣyāṇyapūpamukhyāni svādumaṃti phalāni ca

Translation

Qu’on offre du caillé baratté mêlé de jaggery et de sucre, ainsi que le caillé le plus उत्कृष्ट; et qu’on présente aussi des offrandes comestibles—surtout des gâteaux sucrés—et des fruits agréables, doux au goût.

Word by Word

• गुड-खण्ड-अन्वितम्: endowed with jaggery pieces
• गुड-खण्ड-अन्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक) + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गुडखण्डेन अन्वितम् = endowed with jaggery pieces)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मथितम्: churned
• मथितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दधि-विशेषणम्)

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

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

• उत्तमम्: excellent/best
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दधि-विशेषणम्)

• भक्ष्याणि: edibles/sweets
• भक्ष्याणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• अपूप-मुख्यानि: with apūpa (cakes) as the chief item
• अपूप-मुख्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूप (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अपूपः मुख्यः येषां तानि = whose chief item is apūpa)

• स्वादु-मत्: sweet/tasty
• स्वादु-मत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (तद्धित)
• Form: मतुपन्त विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (फलानि-विशेषणम्)

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A continuation of general naivedya prescriptions—sweetened curd, cakes (apūpa), and fruits—typical of Śaiva temple and household offerings.

Significance: Highlights generosity and purity in offering; such sattvika naivedya supports steadiness of mind and devotional continuity (sthiti), preparing the soul for higher limbs (dhyāna/jñāna).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

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 pure, sattvic offerings (naivedya) made with care; the sweetness symbolizes a softened ego and a loving disposition offered to Pati (Shiva).

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

In Saguna worship of Shiva as the Linga, honoring Him with appropriate upacharas includes naivedya; this verse specifies wholesome items suitable for a reverent Shiva-puja context.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform Shiva-puja with clean preparation and offer sattvic naivedya (curd preparations, sweet cakes, fruits) while maintaining mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a steady, devotional mind.