Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 66

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

तेषामध्वविशुद्ध्यादि कुर्यान्मातृकुलोचितम् । या तु कन्या स्वपित्राद्यैश्शिवधर्मे नियोजिता

Transliteration

teṣāmadhvaviśuddhyādi kuryānmātṛkulocitam | yā tu kanyā svapitrādyaiśśivadharme niyojitā

Translation

അവർക്കായി അധ്വവിശുദ്ധി മുതലായ കർമങ്ങൾ മാതൃകുലത്തിന് അനുയോജ്യമായ രീതിയിൽ ചെയ്യണം. എന്നാൽ സ്വന്തം പിതാവും മറ്റ് രക്ഷിതാക്കളും ശിവധർമ്മത്തിൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം നിയോഗിച്ച ആ കന്യ—

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अध्व-विशुद्धि-आदि: path-purification etc.
• अध्व-विशुद्धि-आदि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक) + viśuddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्ववत्/आदि-समाससमूहः (purification of the path etc.)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मातृ-कुल-उचितम्: appropriate to the maternal family
• मातृ-कुल-उचितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (appropriate to the mother’s family)

• या: who (she)
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोध-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• कन्या: a maiden/daughter
• कन्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्व-पितृ-आद्यैः: by her own father etc.
• स्व-पितृ-आद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (पितृ), तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (by her own father and others)

• शिव-धर्मे: in Śiva-dharma
• शिव-धर्मे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (in Śiva’s dharma)

• नियोजिता: has been appointed
• नियोजिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niyuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः (appointed/engaged)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames adhva-viśuddhi as a structured means to remove obscuration (tirodhāna) and prepare the aspirant for Śiva-dharma; acknowledges lineage-based ritual conventions.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that entry into Śiva-dharma is not casual: one should undergo purificatory disciplines (adhva-viśuddhi) aligned with rightful tradition, so the aspirant becomes fit for Śiva’s path—moving from impurity and bondage (pāśa) toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Purification rites prepare the devotee to approach Saguna Śiva in proper observance—such as orderly initiation, vows, and regulated worship—so Linga-upāsanā is performed with inner and outer fitness rather than mere formality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to preliminary purifications (adhva-śuddhi) and formal authorization/engagement in Śiva-dharma—practically expressed through disciplined Shaiva observances such as mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī), purity regulations, and preparatory rites before regular worship.