Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

सर्वांगोद्धूलनं कुर्यात्प्रणवेन शिवेन वा । ततस्त्रिपुण्ड्रं रचयेत्त्रियायुषसमाह्वयम्

Transliteration

sarvāṃgoddhūlanaṃ kuryātpraṇavena śivena vā | tatastripuṇḍraṃ racayettriyāyuṣasamāhvayam

Translation

പ്രണവം (ഓം) അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ശിവനാമം ജപിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് സർവ്വാംഗത്തിലും വിഭൂതി (ഭസ്മം) പുരട്ടണം. തുടർന്ന് ത്രിപുണ്ഡ്രം വരയ്ക്കണം—ഭൂതം, വർത്തമാനം, ഭാവി എന്ന ത്ര്യായുഷത്തെ ആവാഹനം ചെയ്ത് ശുദ്ധീകരിക്കുന്നവിധം.

Word by Word

• सर्वाङ्ग-उद्धूलनम्: smearing/covering (with ash) of all limbs
• सर्वाङ्ग-उद्धूलनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अङ्ग + उद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'सर्वेषाम् अङ्गानाम् उद्धूलनम्'

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• शिवेन: with (the name) Śiva
• शिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (then/from that)

• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: the triple mark (tripuṇḍra)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical): 'त्रीणि पुण्ड्राणि'

• रचयेत्: should make / draw
• रचयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रि-आयुष-समाह्वयम्: invoking the three lifespans (threefold longevity)
• त्रि-आयुष-समाह्वयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + आयुष् + समाह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: 'त्रीणि आयूंषि समाह्वयति इति' (having the invocation of three lifespans)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (प्रणव) / शिव (नाम)

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches bhasma-dhāraṇa as a Shaiva purifier: the ash signifies detachment from impermanence, while mantra-recitation sanctifies the body as a fit vessel for devotion to Pati (Śiva) and for liberation-oriented practice.

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

Tripuṇḍra and bhasma are external marks of Saguna Śiva-upāsanā that prepare the worshipper for Linga-pūjā; the Praṇava/Śiva-mantra aligns the mind with Śiva’s presence before entering ritual worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Smear sacred ash over the body while reciting Oṁ or a Śiva-mantra, then apply the Tripuṇḍra on the forehead (and other prescribed places), treating it as a mantra-charged act of purification and remembrance.