Shloka 16

शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्

Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship

Devanagari script

रक्तवर्णं महाकायं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् । पाशांकुशेष्टदशनान्दधानङ्करपङ्कजैः

Transliteration

raktavarṇaṃ mahākāyaṃ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam | pāśāṃkuśeṣṭadaśanāndadhānaṅkarapaṅkajaiḥ

Translation

ಅವನು ರಕ್ತವರ್ಣದವನು, ಮಹಾಕಾಯನು, ಸರ್ವಾಭರಣಗಳಿಂದ ಭೂಷಿತನು. ಕಮಲಹಸ್ತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಶ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂಕುಶವನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ, ಉನ್ನತ ದಂತಗಳಿಂದ ಯುಕ್ತನಾಗಿದ್ದನು.

Word by Word

• रक्तवर्णम्: of red color
• रक्तवर्णम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: rakta + varṇa; qualifying an implied deity-form (e.g., गजाननम्)

• महाकायम्: of huge body
• महाकायम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-काय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: mahā + kāya

• सर्वाभरणभूषितम्: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्वाभरणभूषितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-आभरण-भूषित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: sarva + ābharaṇa + bhūṣita ('adorned with all ornaments')

• पाश: noose
• पाश: Karma (कर्म/Object; held)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; member of a list of held items

• अङ्कुश: goad
• अङ्कुश: Karma (कर्म/Object; held)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; member of list

• इष्ट-दशनान्: auspicious tusks/teeth
• इष्ट-दशनान्: Karma (कर्म/Object; held/possessed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट-दशन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; karmadhāraya: iṣṭa + daśana ('desired/auspicious tusks/teeth')

• दधानम्: holding; bearing
• दधानम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Participial predicate qualifying the object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Parasmaipada; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; from धा 'to hold/bear'

• कर-पङ्कजैः: with lotus-like hands
• कर-पङ्कजैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर-पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; karmadhāraya: kara (hand) + paṅkaja (lotus) → 'lotus-like hands'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

The verse gives a dhyāna-style iconographic description: the deity’s form and emblems become supports for focused devotion, steadying the mind so it turns toward Shiva’s grace through the Lord of obstacles (Gaṇeśa).

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

It exemplifies saguna-upāsanā—meditating on a defined form with attributes. In Shaiva practice, such contemplation purifies the devotee and prepares one for deeper Shiva-tattva contemplation, complementing Linga worship rather than opposing it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the verse as a dhyāna before pūjā: visualize the red-hued, ornamented form holding pāśa and aṅkuśa, then begin worship with a Gaṇeśa invocation before Shiva’s mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya).