Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

एकहस्तं द्विहस्तं वा सितं वा रक्तमेव वा । एकहस्तस्य पद्मस्य कर्णिकाष्टांगुला मता

Transliteration

ekahastaṃ dvihastaṃ vā sitaṃ vā raktameva vā | ekahastasya padmasya karṇikāṣṭāṃgulā matā

Translation

പദ്മം ഒരു ഹസ്തമോ രണ്ടുഹസ്തമോ അളവായിരിക്കാം; അത് വെളുത്തതോ ചുവന്നതോ ആയിരിക്കാം. ഒരു ഹസ്തപദ്മത്തിന്റെ കർണിക എട്ട് അങ്കുലമെന്നു കണക്കാക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• एक-हस्तम्: one-hand (in size)
• एक-हस्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (एकः हस्तः प्रमाणं यस्य) विकल्पनिर्देशे (one-hand measure)

• द्वि-हस्तम्: two-hand (in size)
• द्वि-हस्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• वा: or
• वा: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक निपातः (or)

• सितम्: white
• सितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पद्म/मण्डलादेः वर्णः)

• वा: or
• वा: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक निपातः

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक निपातः

• वा: or
• वा: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक निपातः

• एक-हस्तस्य: of the one-hand (measure)
• एक-हस्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः; सम्बन्धः (of the one-hand [lotus])

• पद्मस्य: of the lotus
• पद्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कर्णिका-अष्ट-अङ्गुला: the pericarp is eight finger-breadths
• कर्णिका-अष्ट-अङ्गुला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्ट अङ्गुलाः प्रमाणं यस्याः)

• मता: is considered
• मता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि—‘is considered’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion (bhakti) is supported by disciplined worship: even the choice and proportion of a lotus offering are regulated, reflecting reverence and inner order directed toward Lord Shiva (Pati).

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

The verse belongs to practical worship-instructions: offerings like the lotus are part of saguna upasana—approaching Shiva through visible, sanctified forms (including the Linga) where correct materials and measures express focused devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a structured puja practice: select an appropriate lotus (white or red) and follow prescribed measurements for the central pericarp, cultivating careful attention that steadies the mind for mantra-japa and worship.