Shloka 15

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

दक्षिणे तु यजेद्रुद्रमावोराजानमित्यृचा । आवाह्य गन्धपुष्पाद्यैः कर्णिकायान्दलेषु च

Transliteration

dakṣiṇe tu yajedrudramāvorājānamityṛcā | āvāhya gandhapuṣpādyaiḥ karṇikāyāndaleṣu ca

Translation

ദക്ഷിണ ദിക്കിൽ ‘ആവോ രാജാനം’ എന്നു തുടങ്ങുന്ന ഋചയാൽ രുദ്രനെ പൂജിക്കണം. അവിടെ അവനെ ആവാഹനം ചെയ്ത് ഗന്ധം, പുഷ്പം മുതലായവ കർണികയിലും ദളങ്ങളിലും അർപ്പിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• dakṣiṇe: in the south (side)
• dakṣiṇe: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) used as direction, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) contrast/emphasis

• yajet: should worship
• yajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• rudram: Rudra
• rudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āvo-rājānam: (the mantra) ‘Āvo rājānam’
• āvo-rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvo (पद/मन्त्र-शब्द) + rājān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); mantra-compound/phrase used as name: ‘Āvo-rājānam’ (as in the ṛc)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyasaṃjñā (वाक्यसंज्ञा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात) marking citation

• ṛcā: with the ṛc (hymn-verse)
• ṛcā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āvāhya: having invoked
• āvāhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having invoked’

• gandha-puṣpa-ādyaiḥ: with perfumes, flowers, etc.
• gandha-puṣpa-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समाहार/आदि-समास: ‘with perfumes, flowers, etc.’

• karṇikāyām: in the pericarp (central whorl)
• karṇikāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• daleṣu: in the petals
• daleṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: āvo rājānam (ity ṛcā)

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that Saguna worship of Rudra is performed with precise invocation (āvāhana) and reverent offerings, using Vedic speech and pure substances to steady devotion and align the worshipper with Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants grace.

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

The verse describes a structured pūjā arrangement—worship on the southern side and offering gandha and flowers to the “karṇikā” and “dala,” imagery commonly used for the lotus-seat/mandala around the Liṅga, emphasizing worship of Śiva in a manifest, approachable form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform āvāhana of Rudra and offer fragrance and flowers with mantra-recitation; as a meditative takeaway, visualize Śiva स्थापित (established) in the lotus-center (karṇikā) and extend attention to the petals, cultivating one-pointed bhakti.