Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

केवलामुष्मिकविधिः — The Rite for Exclusive Otherworldly Attainment

Liṅga-Abhiṣeka and Padma-Pūjā Protocol

Devanagari script

इंद्रादिलोकपारैश्च सूर्याद्यैर्नवभिर्ग्रहैः । विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठाद्यैर्ब्रह्मविद्भिर्महर्षिभिः

Transliteration

iṃdrādilokapāraiśca sūryādyairnavabhirgrahaiḥ | viśvāmitravasiṣṭhādyairbrahmavidbhirmaharṣibhiḥ

Translation

Avec Indra et les autres gardiens des mondes, avec les neuf grahas commençant par le Soleil; et avec les grands ṛṣi, connaisseurs de Brahman, tels Viśvāmitra, Vasiṣṭha et d’autres.

Word by Word

• indra-ādi-loka-pāraiḥ: by the world-lords beginning with Indra
• indra-ādi-loka-pāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra + ādi + loka + pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष (enumerative): 'indra-ādi-lokānāṃ pāraiḥ' = by the rulers/guardians of worlds beginning with Indra (pāra used in sense of 'protector/leader' per context)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• sūrya-ādyaiḥ: by those beginning with the Sun
• sūrya-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'sūryaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām te' (those beginning with the Sun)

• navabhiḥ: by nine
• navabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral adjective qualifying 'grahaiḥ'

• grahaiḥ: by the planets
• grahaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• viśvāmitra-vasiṣṭha-ādyaiḥ: by Viśvāmitra, Vasiṣṭha and others
• viśvāmitra-vasiṣṭha-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra + vasiṣṭha + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष (enumerative): 'Viśvāmitra, Vasiṣṭha etc.'

• brahma-vidbhiḥ: by knowers of Brahman
• brahma-vidbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + vid (विद्/विद्वस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'brahma jānanti' = knowers of Brahman

• maharṣibhiḥ: by great sages
• maharṣibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single shrine; the verse expands the scope of participants to lokapālas, navagrahas, and brahmavid maharṣis—signaling cosmic governance and dharma upheld under Īśāna’s lordship.

Significance: General: indicates that Śiva’s observance is supported by cosmic regulators (dikpālas/grahas) and realized seers; reinforces that right practice harmonizes fate (graha) and dharma (lokapāla).

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Surya
• Navagrahas
• Vishvamitra
• Vasistha

FAQs

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

It presents a cosmic assembly—devas, grahas, and brahma-vid sages—implying that all levels of power and knowledge ultimately converge in reverence to the Supreme Lord, understood in Shaiva Siddhanta as Pati (Shiva), the source of grace and liberation.

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

By listing rulers of worlds and realized rishis together, the text signals that Saguna worship (such as Shiva in Linga form) is not merely for worldly aims; it is honored even by the highest cosmic beings and Brahma-knowers, because the Linga signifies Shiva’s transcendent reality made accessible for devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is humility and alignment with cosmic order: worship Shiva with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined devotion, seeking grace beyond planetary influences rather than merely appeasing them.