Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

शार्दूलचर्मवसनं किञ्चित्स्मितमुखांबुजम् । रक्तपद्मदलप्रख्यपादपाणितलाधरम्

Transliteration

śārdūlacarmavasanaṃ kiñcitsmitamukhāṃbujam | raktapadmadalaprakhyapādapāṇitalādharam

Translation

Il portait pour vêtement une peau de tigre; son visage, tel un lotus, esquissait un doux sourire. Ses pieds, ses paumes et ses lèvres brillaient de la teinte des pétales du lotus rouge.

Word by Word

• शार्दूल-चर्म-वसनम्: wearing a tiger-skin garment
• शार्दूल-चर्म-वसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• किञ्चित्: slightly
• किञ्चित्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-नपुंसक used adverbially)
• Form: परिमाण/अल्पत्ववाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'slightly')

• स्मित-मुख-अम्बुजम्: with a lotus-like face (gently) smiling
• स्मित-मुख-अम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मित (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रक्त-पद्म-दल-प्रख्य-पाद-पाणि-तल-अधरम्: whose soles, palms, and lips are like red lotus-petals
• रक्त-पद्म-दल-प्रख्य-पाद-पाणि-तल-अधरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Iconographic continuation: tiger-skin garment and lotus-red extremities emphasize Śiva’s ascetic sovereignty and auspicious beauty; not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga narrative.

Significance: Meditation on the ascetic-emperor (vyāghracarma-dhara) supports vairāgya and inner steadiness; the gentle smile signals accessibility of grace despite transcendence.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents a dhyāna (contemplative) vision of Saguna Shiva: the compassionate Lord whose serene smile grants fearlessness, and whose auspicious marks invite the bound soul (paśu) to turn toward Pati (Shiva) for grace and liberation.

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

Though Linga worship points to the formless (nirguṇa) reality, this verse supports Saguna upāsanā—meditating on Shiva’s sacred form and qualities—helping devotees steady the mind before offering worship to the Linga as the supreme Pati beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the verse as a dhyāna-śloka: visualize Shiva’s calm, lotus-faced form while mentally repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” then offer simple devotion (water, bilva leaves, or silent pranava) with focused awareness.