Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

कलाध्वसु प्रतिष्ठां च वामं ब्रह्मसु पञ्चसु । मध्यं तु लिंगभागेषु योनिं च त्रिषु हेतुषु

Transliteration

kalādhvasu pratiṣṭhāṃ ca vāmaṃ brahmasu pañcasu | madhyaṃ tu liṃgabhāgeṣu yoniṃ ca triṣu hetuṣu

Translation

Dans les parcours (adhvans) des kalās, qu’il contemple la Puissance d’Établissement, Pratiṣṭhā; dans les cinq Brahmans, l’aspect Gauche, Vāma; dans les divisions du Liṅga, le Milieu, Madhya; et dans les trois principes causaux, la Yoni, source génératrice.

Word by Word

• कलाध्वसु: in the kalā-paths (divisions/paths)
• कलाध्वसु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलाध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रतिष्ठाम्: foundation, establishment
• प्रतिष्ठाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—thing to be placed/assigned)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वामम्: the left (side/part)
• वामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—thing to be placed/assigned)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मसु: in the brahmans (Brahma-aspects)
• ब्रह्मसु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पञ्चसु: in five
• पञ्चसु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (ब्रह्मसु)

• मध्यम्: the middle (part)
• मध्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—thing to be placed/assigned)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of contrast/emphasis)

• लिङ्गभागेषु: in the parts of the liṅga
• लिङ्गभागेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लिङ्गस्य भागाः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• योनिम्: yoni (base/womb)
• योनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—thing to be placed/assigned)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रिषु: in three
• त्रिषु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (हेतुषु)

• हेतुषु: in the causes
• हेतुषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a contemplative mapping of reality—kalās, the five Brahmans, Liṅga-divisions, and the three causes—so the seeker can recognize all levels of manifestation as grounded in Śiva and his śaktis, leading the mind from outer structure to inner realization.

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

The verse treats the Liṅga not merely as an outer emblem but as a meditative axis: its ‘parts’ correspond to inner principles, helping the devotee worship Saguna Śiva while discerning the deeper, causal and śakti-based meanings behind the form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests nyāsa-like contemplation: during Liṅga worship, mentally place (visualize) Pratiṣṭhā, Vāma, Madhya, and Yoni in their respective domains, integrating mantra-japa and focused dhyāna to stabilize awareness in Śiva.