Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

वेदवेदांततत्त्वज्ञैश्शिवशास्त्रपरायणैः । शिवाश्रमरतैर्भक्तैः शिवशास्त्रोक्तलक्षणैः

Transliteration

vedavedāṃtatattvajñaiśśivaśāstraparāyaṇaiḥ | śivāśramaratairbhaktaiḥ śivaśāstroktalakṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

S’y trouvaient des dévots connaissant le sens véritable des Veda et du Vedānta, entièrement voués aux śāstra de Śiva, se réjouissant des disciplines śaiva (āśrama), et portant les signes et caractères prescrits par l’enseignement même de Śiva.

Word by Word

• वेद-वेदान्त-तत्त्व-ज्ञैः: by knowers of the truth of Veda and Vedānta
• वेद-वेदान्त-तत्त्व-ज्ञैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—वेदवेदान्तयोः तत्त्वं जानन्ति ये ते

• शिव-शास्त्र-परायणैः: devoted to Śiva’s scriptures
• शिव-शास्त्र-परायणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—शिवशास्त्रे परायणाः (devoted to Śiva-śāstra)

• शिव-आश्रम-रतैः: delighting in Śiva’s āśrama/discipline
• शिव-आश्रम-रतैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √रम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—शिवाश्रमे रताः

• भक्तैः: by devotees
• भक्तैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (कृदन्त; √भज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘भक्त’ as devotee (nominalized)

• शिव-शास्त्र-उक्त-लक्षणैः: with characteristics described in Śiva-śāstra
• शिव-शास्त्र-उक्त-लक्षणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—शिवशास्त्रे उक्तानि लक्षणानि येषां/यैः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga section; the verse characterizes ideal Śaiva devotees: Veda/Vedānta-tattva-jñāna joined to Śiva-śāstra-parāyaṇatā and śivāśrama observance—an archetype of the Śaiva Siddhānta synthesis of jñāna and caryā/kriyā.

Significance: Defines the pilgrim-devotee’s inner qualification: scriptural understanding, disciplined observance, and visible marks (lakṣaṇa) aligned with Śaiva teaching—seen as prerequisites for receiving Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vedas
• Vedanta

FAQs

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

It defines the ideal Śaiva devotee as one grounded in Vedic-Vedāntic truth yet firmly devoted to Śiva’s own śāstra, showing that right knowledge and disciplined bhakti together mature into fitness for Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

By stressing “Śiva-śāstra” and its prescribed lakṣaṇas, the verse points to regulated Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā, mantra, and observances—performed by qualified devotees whose understanding aligns Vedic wisdom with Śaiva practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies following Śiva-śāstra disciplines and external marks—commonly including japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing rudrākṣa, and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma—along with study/contemplation of Veda-Vedānta in a Śaiva spirit.