Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

ध्यायेद्देवं च देवीं च प्राङ्मुखो वाप्युदङ्मुखः । श्वेतादीन्नकुलीशांतांस्तच्छिष्यान्प्रणमेद्गुरुम्

Transliteration

dhyāyeddevaṃ ca devīṃ ca prāṅmukho vāpyudaṅmukhaḥ | śvetādīnnakulīśāṃtāṃstacchiṣyānpraṇamedgurum

Translation

東に向かって、あるいは北に向かって、主神と女神を観想すべきである。ついで師（グル）に敬礼し、またシュヴェータに始まりナクリーシャに至る伝承の師資相承と、その弟子たちにも礼拝する。

Word by Word

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• देवम्: the god (Śiva)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction

• देवीम्: the goddess (Pārvatī)
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction

• प्राङ्मुखः: facing east
• प्राङ्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राङ् (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose face is to the east’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable disjunctive particle

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle

• उदङ्मुखः: facing north
• उदङ्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदङ् (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose face is to the north’

• श्वेतादीन्: Śveta and others
• श्वेतादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; ‘Śveta and others’ (आदि-तत्पुरुष)

• नकुलीशान्तान्: up to Nakulīśa (as the last)
• नकुलीशान्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुलीश (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa ‘ending with Nakulīśa’ (i.e., up to Nakulīśa)

• तत्: those
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; demonstrative used attributively with शिष्यान्

• शिष्यान्: disciples
• शिष्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• प्रणमेत्: should bow to
• प्रणमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Nakulisha
• Sveta

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Shaiva practice begins with dhyāna on Pati (Śiva) together with Śakti (Devī), and is completed by humility before the Guru and the sanctified lineage that transmits right knowledge and right method.

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

Meditation on “the Lord and the Goddess” supports Saguna upāsanā—visualizing Śiva with His power—and such inner worship naturally complements external Linga-pūjā performed under the guidance of the Guru-paramparā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sit for meditation facing east or north, contemplate Śiva-Śakti, and then perform praṇāma to one’s Guru and the Shaiva lineage (ācārya-paramparā), affirming disciplined practice rather than self-directed ritual.