Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

भवोद्भवस्तयोर्मध्ये कपालीशस्ततः परम् । तस्मिन्नावरणे भूयो वृषेन्द्रं पुरतो यजेत्

Transliteration

bhavodbhavastayormadhye kapālīśastataḥ param | tasminnāvaraṇe bhūyo vṛṣendraṃ purato yajet

Translation

バヴァとウドバヴァの間に、さらにその彼方に、カパーリーシャ（髑髏を戴く主シヴァ）がある。その同じアーヴァラナにおいて、また前方に据えられた牡牛の王—ナンディン—を礼拝すべきである。

Word by Word

• भवोद्भवः: Bhavodbhava (name/epithet)
• भवोद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भवस्य उद्भवः)

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (स्थान)

• कपालीशः: Kapālīśa
• कपालीशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• परम्: the next/further (one)
• परम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (implied object/placement)

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• आवरणे: in the enclosure/covering (circle)
• आवरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भूयः: again/further
• भूयः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/further)

• वृषेन्द्रम्: Vṛṣendra (lord of bulls; Nandin/vehicle)
• वृषेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृषाणाम् इन्द्रः)

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: in front)

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice to
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kaṅkālamūrti

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Kapālīśa
• Bhava
• Udbhava

FAQs

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

The verse teaches disciplined approach (krama) in Shaiva worship: honoring Shiva’s surrounding powers and attendants (āvaraṇa) culminates in devotion that becomes fit to approach Pati (Shiva), with Nandin as the foremost gateway of bhakti and service.

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

It reflects temple and linga-puja practice where Nandi is placed facing Shiva and is worshipped first; this honors Saguna Shiva’s manifest retinue and supports concentrated devotion before the main offering to the Linga/Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform āvaraṇa-pūjā in sequence and specifically worship Nandi in front of Shiva—offering water/flowers and mentally taking refuge in Shiva’s grace through his chief attendant, cultivating humility and one-pointedness.