Shloka 5

Śiva-Pūjākramaḥ — The Procedural Order of Shiva Worship

Pañcāvaraṇa & Upacāras

Devanagari script

पादौ प्रक्षाल्य चाचम्य स्वयं कर्ता च वाग्यतः । स्थापयेदासने तान्वै प्राङ्मुखान्भस्मभूषितान्

Transliteration

pādau prakṣālya cācamya svayaṃ kartā ca vāgyataḥ | sthāpayedāsane tānvai prāṅmukhānbhasmabhūṣitān

Translation

ເມື່ອລ້າງຕີນ ແລະປະກອບອາຈະມະນະ (ācamana) ແລ້ວ, ຜູ້ປະກອບພິທີເອງ—ສຳລວມວາຈາ—ຄວນຈັດໃຫ້ພວກເຂົານັ່ງເທິງອາສະນະ ໃຫ້ຫັນໜ້າໄປທາງຕາເວັນອອກ ແລະປະດັບດ້ວຍພະສະມະ (bhasma) ອັນສັກສິດ.

Word by Word

• पादौ: (his) two feet
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

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

• आचम्य: having sipped (water)
• आचम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; आचमन-कर्म (sipping water for purification)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Emphatic subject marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक-अव्यय (reflexive adverb: 'oneself')

• कर्ता: the doer/performer
• कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier of कर्ता)

• स्थापयेत्: should seat/place
• स्थापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) [णिच् causative: स्थापय]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• आसने: on a seat
• आसने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय/पादपूरण (emphatic particle)

• प्राङ्मुखान्: facing east
• प्राङ्मुखान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक: प्राक् + मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (of तान्): ‘whose faces are towards the east’

• भस्मभूषितान्: adorned with ash
• भस्मभूषितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s ritual teachings as preserved in the Kailāsa-saṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it is a procedural detail of seating purified participants/items facing east, marked with bhasma—typical Śaiva identity and readiness for worship.

Significance: Tripuṇḍra/bhasma and east-facing orientation signify Śaiva belonging and auspicious alignment; such śauca supports fruitful pūjā and the reception of grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pūjā begins with purity of body and restraint of speech—outer cleansing (washing, ācamana) supports inner discipline, making the mind fit to approach Pati (Śiva) with reverence.

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

The verse gives preparatory rules for Saguna worship: arranging the worship setting properly (āsana, east-facing) and wearing bhasma/Tripuṇḍra as a Shaiva mark, which sanctifies the worshipper before offering to the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pāda-prakṣālana and ācamana, observe vāg-yama (silence/controlled speech), and apply bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) before beginning Śiva-pūjā.