Shloka 45

प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva

Devanagari script

गुरुमाहूय विधिना नान्दीश्राद्धं विधाय च । क्षौरं च कारयित्वाथ कक्षोपस्थविवर्जितम्

Transliteration

gurumāhūya vidhinā nāndīśrāddhaṃ vidhāya ca | kṣauraṃ ca kārayitvātha kakṣopasthavivarjitam

Translation

વિધિપૂર્વક ગુરુને બોલાવી, નિયમસર નાંદી-શ્રાદ્ધ કરીને, પછી તેણે ક્ષૌર (મુંડન) કરાવ્યું—પરંતુ કક્ષ (બગલ) અને ઉપસ્થ પ્રદેશને છોડીને.

Word by Word

• गुरुम्: the guru
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• आहूय: having summoned
• आहूय: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√hū (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): पूर्वक्रिया

• विधिना: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental Singular)

• नान्दीश्राद्धम्: the nāndī-śrāddha rite
• नान्दीश्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāndī (प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नान्दी-विशिष्टं श्राद्धम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विधाय: having performed
• विधाय: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): पूर्वक्रिया

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• क्षौरम्: shaving/tonsure
• क्षौरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• कारयित्वा: having had (it) done
• कारयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारयति] + त्वा (कृत्)
• Form: त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): 'having caused to be done'

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• कक्षोपस्थविवर्जितम्: excluding (hair of) armpits and groin / with armpit & groin hair removed
• कक्षोपस्थविवर्जितम्: Karma (कर्म; object-description)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + upastha (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-√vṛj (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कक्ष-उपस्थयोः विवर्जितम् = deprived of armpit and groin hair); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of kṣauram/karma implied)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it describes preparatory rites (guru-invitation, Nāndī-śrāddha, kṣaura) that remove obstacles and ritually ‘cover’ impurity before approaching Śiva.

Significance: Highlights that successful Śiva-upāsanā is supported by ancestral propitiation and bodily discipline; pilgrimage without such saṃskāra-like preparation is considered incomplete in vrata contexts.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Pitrs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shaiva life is supported by disciplined dharma: honoring the guru, performing auspicious rites (Nāndī-śrāddha), and maintaining bodily and ritual purity—outer order that supports inner steadiness for Shiva-bhakti.

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

Preparatory purity and correct procedure are presented as supports for approaching Saguna Shiva in worship; such rites help the devotee become fit (adhikārī) to offer worship to the Linga with focus, reverence, and scriptural propriety.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A prescribed preparatory observance: invite and honor the guru, perform Nāndī-śrāddha for auspiciousness, and undergo regulated grooming as part of a samskāra-like purification before undertaking a major vow or worship.