Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

केवलामुष्मिकविधिः — The Rite for Exclusive Otherworldly Attainment

Liṅga-Abhiṣeka and Padma-Pūjā Protocol

Devanagari script

वासांसि चातिसूक्ष्माणि विकाशानि निवेदयेत् । पायसं घृतसंमिश्रं घृतदीपांश्च दापयेत्

Transliteration

vāsāṃsi cātisūkṣmāṇi vikāśāni nivedayet | pāyasaṃ ghṛtasaṃmiśraṃ ghṛtadīpāṃśca dāpayet

Translation

Qu’on offre des vêtements d’une finesse extrême et des fleurs fraîches épanouies. Qu’on présente aussi le pāyasa (riz sucré) mêlé de ghee (ghṛta), et qu’on dispose des lampes remplies de ghee en offrande de lumière.

Word by Word

• vāsāṃsi: garments/cloths
• vāsāṃsi: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Acc), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• ati-sūkṣmāṇi: very fine
• ati-sūkṣmāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'very fine'; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Acc), Bahuvacana; qualifies vāsāṃsi

• vikāśāni: bright/clean (well-spread)
• vikāśāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Acc), Bahuvacana; qualifies vāsāṃsi (as 'bright/clean/spread out')

• nivedayet: should offer/present
• nivedayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्) with ni- (उपसर्ग) → √nived (निवेद्, causative sense in usage)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada; 'should present/offer'

• pāyasam: rice-pudding (pāyasa)
• pāyasam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Acc), Ekavacana

• ghṛta-saṃmiśram: mixed with ghee
• ghṛta-saṃmiśram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃmiśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'mixed with ghee'; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Acc), Ekavacana; qualifies pāyasam

• ghṛta-dīpān: ghee lamps
• ghṛta-dīpān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + dīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'ghee-lamps'; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• dāpayet: should cause to be given/arrange to offer
• dāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (णिच् causative) → dāpayati
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada; Causative (णिच्) = 'should cause to be given/should have (them) lit/offered'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General upacāra sequence: vastra (garments), puṣpa, naivedya (pāyasa), and dīpa are standard temple/home worship elements rather than a Jyotirliṅga-specific narrative.

Significance: Offering food and light symbolizes surrender of sustenance and awareness to Śiva; dīpa signifies removal of ajñāna (bondage) and invites grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Pati (Lord Shiva) is expressed through pure, sattvic offerings—clean garments, fresh flowers, nourishing naivedya, and the light of ghee lamps—symbolizing inner purity and the awakening of consciousness.

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

These are standard upacharas of Saguna Shiva worship, especially in Linga-puja: offering vastra (cloth), pushpa (flowers), naivedya (payasa with ghee), and dipa (lamp) to honor Shiva’s gracious, worship-receiving form while cultivating reverence and humility.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva puja with offerings of cloth and flowers, offer payasa mixed with ghee as naivedya, and light ghee lamps (dipa). While offering the lamp, one may silently contemplate Shiva as the inner Light and repeat the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as applicable.