Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

शिवतत्त्वमिति ख्यातं शिवार्थं जगति स्थिरम् । पञ्चोपचारवद्भक्त्या पूजयेल्लिंगमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

śivatattvamiti khyātaṃ śivārthaṃ jagati sthiram | pañcopacāravadbhaktyā pūjayelliṃgamuttamam

Translation

‘ശിവതത്ത്വം’ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധമായത് ലോകത്തിൽ ശിവാർത്ഥമായി സ്ഥിരമായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു. അതുകൊണ്ട് പഞ്ചോപചാരഭക്തിയോടെ ഉത്തമ ലിംഗത്തെ പൂജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• शिवतत्त्वम्: the principle/reality of Śiva
• शिवतत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य तत्त्वम्)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातम्: is known/called
• ख्यातम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ख्यात’ = प्रसिद्धम्

• शिवार्थम्: the purpose/meaning of Śiva
• शिवार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य अर्थः)

• जगति: in the world
• जगति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• स्थिरम्: stable, enduring
• स्थिरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘शिवतत्त्वम्/शिवार्थम्’)

• पञ्चोपचारवत्: having five offerings/services
• पञ्चोपचारवत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च-उपचार-वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; ‘पञ्च’ + ‘उपचार’ (द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-आधार) + ‘वत्’; अर्थः—पञ्चोपचारयुक्त

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: supreme, excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘लिङ्गम्’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes liṅga-pūjā as the stable, world-accessible means to approach Śiva-tattva; fruit implied: purification and eligibility for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It identifies Śiva-tattva as the stable, enduring reality and teaches that devotion directed to this truth is concretely practiced through reverent worship of the supreme Liṅga.

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

Śiva-tattva is the highest principle, and the Liṅga serves as its sacred, approachable form (saguṇa-upāsanā support), allowing the devotee to honor the transcendent Śiva through ritual devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pañcopacāra (five-offering) Liṅga-pūjā with bhakti—offering simple services with steady remembrance of Śiva as the supreme reality.