Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

तदा विभक्तमभवच्चतुर्धैकं तदक्षरम् । अ उ मेति त्रिमात्राभिः परस्ताच्चार्धमात्रया

Transliteration

tadā vibhaktamabhavaccaturdhaikaṃ tadakṣaram | a u meti trimātrābhiḥ parastāccārdhamātrayā

Translation

Alors cette unique syllabe impérissable se divisa en quatre parts : en « A, U et M » selon trois mesures (mātrās), et au-delà d’elles en la demi-mesure (ardhamātrā) qui transcende le son. Elle désigne Śiva, le Pati suprême, réalisé dans le silence qui suit Oṁ.

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

• vibhaktam: divided
• vibhaktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhakta (वि + भज् + क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू)
• Form: Lang Lakara (Imperfect), 3rd Person, Singular

• caturdhā: in four ways
• caturdhā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: caturdhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• ekam: one
• ekam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• akṣaram: syllable
• akṣaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• a: the letter A
• a: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• u: the letter U
• u: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: u (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ma: the letter M
• ma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• trimātrābhiḥ: with three measures
• trimātrābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-mātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• parastāt: beyond
• parastāt: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parastāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• ardhamātrayā: with a half measure
• ardhamātrayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha-mātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse teaches Praṇava (Oṃ) analysis—A-U-M plus ardhamātrā (silence)—as the revelatory key to realizing Śiva beyond sound.

Significance: Contemplation of the ardhamātrā (the silence after Oṃ) is presented as a direct contemplative approach to Pati (Śiva) beyond vāc (speech), supporting inner pilgrimage (antar-yātrā).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (praṇava) understood as A-U-M + ardhamātrā (amātra/śānta)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains Oṁ (praṇava) as the imperishable sound-form divided into A-U-M, culminating in the ardhamātrā—symbolizing the transcendence of all vibration and the direct realization of Śiva beyond mind and speech.

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

A-U-M supports Saguna worship through audible mantra and contemplative form, while the ardhamātrā indicates the Nirguna culmination—where the devotee’s awareness rests in Śiva as pure consciousness, the inner ‘liṅga’ of realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and dhyāna on Oṁ: mentally contemplate A, U, M in sequence, then abide in the silence after the sound (ardhamātrā) as a meditative doorway to Śiva; this can be integrated with daily Śiva-pūjā and Mahāśivarātri mantra practice.