Shloka 21

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

सिद्धक्षेत्रे महापुण्ये शिखण्डी नाम पर्वतः । शिखण्डिनो वनं वापि यत्र सिद्धनिषेवितम्

Transliteration

siddhakṣetre mahāpuṇye śikhaṇḍī nāma parvataḥ | śikhaṇḍino vanaṃ vāpi yatra siddhaniṣevitam

Translation

至上に聖なるシッダ・クシェートラには、シカーンディーと名づけられた山がある。さらにシカーンディーの森もあり、そこは成就者シッダたちがしばしば訪れ、奉仕し、憩うところである。

Word by Word

• सिद्ध-क्षेत्रे: in the siddha-field/holy region
• सिद्ध-क्षेत्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (सिद्धानां क्षेत्रम्)

• महापुण्ये: very meritorious/most holy
• महापुण्ये: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास (महच्च तत् पुण्यम्)

• शिखण्डी: Śikhaṇḍī (name)
• शिखण्डी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: सम्बन्धसूचक (Naming particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक-निपात (quotative/‘by name’)

• पर्वतः: mountain
• पर्वतः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिखण्डिनः: of Śikhaṇḍin/Śikhaṇḍī
• शिखण्डिनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: समुच्चय (Additive particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक (also/even)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: देशाधिकरण (Spatial adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb/relative)

• सिद्ध-निषेवितम्: frequented/inhabited by siddhas
• सिद्ध-निषेवितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध + निषेवित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) √सेव् (धातु) + नि- उपसर्ग; तत्पुरुष-समास (सिद्धैः निषेवितम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Describes a ‘Siddha-kṣetra’ with the Śikhaṇḍī mountain and its forest, frequented by siddhas. Such locales function as liminal zones where bondage (pāśa) is attenuated and grace (anugraha) is readily encountered through tapas and proximity to realized beings.

Significance: Pilgrimage to siddha-kṣetras is portrayed as contact with perfected beings and intensified merit (mahāpuṇya), supporting purification of pāśa (mala/karma/māyā) and readiness for Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse sanctifies Siddha-kṣetra as a “mahāpuṇya” region and marks it as siddha-sevita—an environment charged with realized presence—implying that proximity to such Shaiva holy spaces supports purification, devotion, and readiness for Shiva’s grace.

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

By identifying a siddha-frequented tirtha and its mountain/forest, the text frames sacred landscape as an aid to Saguna Shiva worship—places where devotees more naturally perform puja, japa, and contemplation of Shiva’s forms, leading the mind toward the higher (nirguṇa) reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tirtha-smaraṇa and tirtha-yātrā with Shiva-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed in a pure place (vana/parvata) with disciplined conduct, as such settings are traditionally suited for siddhi-oriented meditation.