Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

लघुशीतलसंस्पर्शैरच्छाच्छैर्निर्झराम्बुभिः । अधिराज्येन चाद्रीणामद्रीरेषो ऽभिषिच्यते

Transliteration

laghuśītalasaṃsparśairacchācchairnirjharāmbubhiḥ | adhirājyena cādrīṇāmadrīreṣo 'bhiṣicyate

Translation

ಪರ್ವತ ಝರಿಗಳ ಸ್ಫಟಿಕಸ್ವಚ್ಛ ಜಲಗಳ ಮೃದು ಶೀತಲ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶದಿಂದಲೂ, ಪರ್ವತಗಳ ಅಧಿರಾಜ್ಯದಿಂದಲೂ, ಈ ಪರ್ವತರಾಜನು ಇವತ್ತೇ ಅಭಿಷಿಕ್ತನಾದಂತೆ ತೋರುತ್ತಾನೆ।

Word by Word

• लघु: light/gentle
• लघु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); adjective stem in compound

• शीतल: cool
• शीतल: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); adjective stem in compound

• संस्पर्शैः: by gentle cool touches
• संस्पर्शैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समास: लघु-शीतल-संस्पर्श (कर्मधारय/बहुविशेषणसमास)

• अच्छ: clear/pure
• अच्छ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); adjective stem in compound

• अच्छैः: very clear
• अच्छैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समास: अच्छ-अच्छ (पुनरुक्त/यमक-प्रयोगः)

• निर्झर: waterfall/spring
• निर्झर: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्झर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• अम्बुभिः: by waterfall-waters
• अम्बुभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समास: निर्झर-अम्बु (तत्पुरुष)

• अधिराज्येन: by sovereignty/overlordship
• अधिराज्येन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिराज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अद्रीणाम्: of the mountains
• अद्रीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• अद्रिः: the mountain
• अद्रिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular

• एषः: this
• एषः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• अभिषिच्यते: is anointed/sprinkled
• अभिषिच्यते: कर्म (Patient as grammatical subject in passive/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The mountain is poetically ‘abhiṣikta’ (consecrated) by cool, pure spring waters and by its ‘adhirājya’ (overlordship) among mountains—an implicit kṣetra-abhiṣeka where nature itself performs the coronation of Śiva’s chosen abode.

Significance: Frames the site as a naturally consecrated rājarṣi-kṣetra: devotees approaching it participate in an ongoing abhiṣeka, gaining steadiness and purity through contact with its waters and atmosphere.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse sacralizes nature itself: purity (clear waters), coolness (soothing grace), and rightful sovereignty (dharma) together ‘consecrate’ a holy mountain—implying that outer sanctity mirrors inner purification that supports Shaiva liberation-oriented life.

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

It echoes the logic of liṅga-abhisheka: just as the mountain is ‘anointed’ by pure, cool waters, devotees anoint the Śiva-liṅga with clean offerings, expressing reverence to Saguna Shiva while cultivating inner clarity and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is abhisheka with pure water (ideally cool and clean) performed with mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—while meditating on inner cooling of passions and cleansing of impurities.