Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

स्वयमेव विशीर्णानि न देयानि शिवार्चने । वासांसि च मृदून्येव तपनीयमयानि च

Transliteration

svayameva viśīrṇāni na deyāni śivārcane | vāsāṃsi ca mṛdūnyeva tapanīyamayāni ca

Translation

Dans le culte de Śiva, on ne doit pas offrir des vêtements déjà déchirés ou usés d’eux-mêmes. Qu’on n’offre au contraire que des étoffes douces et fines, ainsi que des offrandes faites d’or pur.

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: by itself
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb) = 'by oneself/of itself'

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विशीर्णानि: torn/worn-out
• विशीर्णानि: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-शीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शॄ/शृ 'to break/decay')
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with वासांसि

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• देयानि: to be given/offerable
• देयानि: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दा)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'to be given/should be offered'

• शिव-अर्चने: in the worship of Śiva
• शिव-अर्चने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य अर्चनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वासांसि: garments
• वासांसि: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• मृदूनि: soft
• मृदूनि: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with वासांसि

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

• तपनीय-मयानि: made of gold
• तपनीय-मयानि: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपनीय (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (तपनीयस्य मयम् = made of gold); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with वासांसि

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-arcana should be performed with śuddhi (purity) and sincere bhakti—offering what is clean and worthy symbolizes inner refinement and reverence toward Pati (Śiva), helping the devotee loosen pāśa (bondage) through disciplined devotion.

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

In Saguna worship of the Śiva-liṅga, external offerings mirror internal attitude. Presenting untorn, soft cloth and pure materials expresses honor to the manifest form of Śiva and supports the devotional mood required for effective liṅga-arcana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests careful selection of offerings for Śiva-pūjā—use clean, fine items rather than worn-out ones, and accompany the act with focused devotion, ideally while remembering Śiva through japa such as the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).