Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

बीजानि सप्त सप्तानां जिह्वानामनुपूर्वशः । त्रिशिखा मध्यमा जिह्वा बहुरूपसमाह्वया

Transliteration

bījāni sapta saptānāṃ jihvānāmanupūrvaśaḥ | triśikhā madhyamā jihvā bahurūpasamāhvayā

Translation

Les sept syllabes-semences (bīja) des sept langues du feu sacré doivent être connues dans l’ordre prescrit. La langue du milieu est appelée Triśikhā, invoquée comme celle aux formes multiples.

Word by Word

• बीजानि: seed-syllables
• बीजानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/उद्देश्य), बहुवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण; (अव्ययवत्) प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे ‘सप्त’

• सप्तानाम्: of the seven
• सप्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of seven’

• जिह्वानाम्: of the tongues (flames)
• जिह्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अनुपूर्वशः: in sequence
• अनुपूर्वशः: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘in due order/serially’)

• त्रिशिखा: having three crests/flames
• त्रिशिखा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्याḥ त्रयः शिखाः सा)

• मध्यमा: the middle (one)
• मध्यमा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जिह्वा: the tongue/flame
• जिह्वा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• बहुरूपसमाह्वया: called ‘Bahurūpa’
• बहुरूपसमाह्वया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुरूप + समाह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयः (बहुरूपः समाह्वयः यस्याः = ‘whose name is Bahurūpa’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-power is not random: the “seed” sounds are to be applied in a precise order, reflecting the disciplined unfolding of Shakti in worship that culminates in grace toward Pati (Shiva).

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

In Shaiva ritual frameworks, ordered bija-mantras and fire-invocations are auxiliaries (aṅgas) that purify the worshipper and offerings, supporting Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-puja) so the mind becomes fit for Shiva’s presence and blessing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to mantra-japa and homa performed with correct sequence (anupūrvaśaḥ), contemplating the fire’s tongues (jihvāḥ) as channels of offering and inner purification while invoking Shiva with focused devotion.