Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

पञ्चाक्षरीविद्यायाḥ कलियुगे मोक्षोपायः | The Pañcākṣarī Vidyā as a Means of Liberation in Kali Yuga

Devanagari script

आवयोरर्चनं कुर्याज्जपहोमादिकं तथा । यथाप्रज्ञं यथाकालं यथाशास्त्रं यथामति

Transliteration

āvayorarcanaṃ kuryājjapahomādikaṃ tathā | yathāprajñaṃ yathākālaṃ yathāśāstraṃ yathāmati

Translation

ഞങ്ങളിരുവരുടെയും അർച്ചന ചെയ്യണം; ജപ‑ഹോമാദികളും ആചരിക്കണം. അത് സ്വന്തം ബോധപ്രകാരം, യുക്തകാലത്ത്, ശാസ്ത്രാനുസാരം, സ്ഥിരനിശ്ചയപ്രകാരം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• आवयोः: of us two
• आवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; आवाम्/आवयोः)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), द्विवचन

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; क्रियावाचक नाम (verbal noun)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जप-होम-आदिकम्: japa, homa, and the like
• जप-होम-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रत्यय)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (जप+होम) तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्ध (…आदि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• यथा-प्रज्ञम्: according to one’s capacity of understanding
• यथा-प्रज्ञम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (according to one’s understanding)

• यथा-कालम्: according to the proper time
• यथा-कालम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (according to time/at the proper time)

• यथा-शास्त्रम्: according to the scriptures
• यथा-शास्त्रम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (in accordance with scripture)

• यथा-मति: according to one’s inclination
• यथा-मति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (according to one’s mind/intent)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion must be both heartfelt and regulated—worship, japa, and homa become spiritually effective when aligned with śāstra, appropriate timing, and one’s sincere capacity, leading the soul (paśu) toward the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

Arcana and allied rites are core modes of Saguna Shiva worship, commonly centered on the Shiva-linga; the verse emphasizes performing these practices correctly and consistently, integrating outer ritual with inner intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It explicitly recommends arcana (formal worship), japa (mantra repetition—such as the Panchakshara), and homa (fire-offering), to be undertaken within one’s capacity and in conformity with scriptural injunctions.