Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

अत्यन्तालंकृतप्रांतमंतरावरणैरिव । उत्तमस्त्रीसहस्रैश्च नृत्यगेयविशारदैः

Transliteration

atyantālaṃkṛtaprāṃtamaṃtarāvaraṇairiva | uttamastrīsahasraiśca nṛtyageyaviśāradaiḥ

Translation

Ses enceintes intérieures paraissaient somptueusement ornées, comme si des paravents intimes les entouraient ; et elles étaient remplies de milliers de femmes nobles, expertes en danse et en chant.

Word by Word

• अत्यन्त-अलंकृत-प्रान्त-अन्तर-आवरणैः: with coverings/screens of extremely ornamented outer and inner areas
• अत्यन्त-अलंकृत-प्रान्त-अन्तर-आवरणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/उपपद) + अलंकृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु, अलं-उपसर्ग) + प्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—(अत्यन्तं अलंकृताः) प्रान्तान्तराणि तेषाम् आवरणानि

• इव: as if/like
• इव: सम्बन्ध/उपमा (Comparative marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• उत्तम-स्त्री-सहस्रैः: with thousands of excellent women
• उत्तम-स्त्री-सहस्रैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—उत्तमानां स्त्रीणां सहस्राणि

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नृत्य-गेय-विशारदैः: with those skilled in dance and song
• नृत्य-गेय-विशारदैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गेय (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—नृत्ये च गेये च विशारदाः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the ‘inner screens/enclosures’ (antarāvaraṇa) and lavish ornamentation evoke the layered sanctity of a divine precinct, analogous to temple prākāras and inner maṇḍapas.

Significance: Suggests the devotional ideal of entering progressively ‘inner’ spaces—outer adornment leading to inner sanctum—mirroring pilgrimage movement from bāhya to āntara.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It portrays a sanctified, beautified sacred environment where refined arts like music and dance become offerings—signifying that devotion (bhakti) can be expressed through uplifting, sattvic aesthetics oriented toward Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse reflects the Saguna mode of worship: the Lord is honored through an adorned sacred precinct and devotional performances, which function as upacāras (reverential services) offered to Shiva’s manifest presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests devotional upacāra through gīta and nṛtya (sacred singing and dance) in a purified space; as an inner practice, one can accompany Shiva-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with attentive, reverent listening or chanting.