Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

सुगंधामलकं दद्याद्धरिद्रां च यथाक्रमम् । ततः संशोध्य सलिलैर्लिंगं बेरमथापि वा

Transliteration

sugaṃdhāmalakaṃ dadyāddharidrāṃ ca yathākramam | tataḥ saṃśodhya salilairliṃgaṃ beramathāpi vā

Translation

ക്രമാനുസാരം സുഗന്ധമുള്ള ആമലകം (നെല്ലിക്ക)യും പിന്നെ മഞ്ഞളും അർപ്പിക്കണം; തുടർന്ന് ജലത്തിൽ ശുദ്ധീകരിച്ച് ശിവലിംഗത്തെയോ ബേരം (മൂർത്തി) യെയോ കൂടി ശുചീകരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• सुगन्ध-अमलकम्: fragrant amla (emblic myrobalan)
• सुगन्ध-अमलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्ध + आमलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—कर्मधारय (सुगन्धं यदामलकम्)

• दद्यात्: should give/apply
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• हरिद्राम्: turmeric
• हरिद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• यथा-क्रमम्: in due order
• यथा-क्रमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb) = ‘क्रमानुसारम्’

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• संशोध्य: having purified/cleansed
• संशोध्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + शुध्/शोध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• सलिलैः: with waters
• सलिलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

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

• बेरम्: the idol/image (bera)
• बेरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (particle: then/now)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/समुच्चय (particle: also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (disjunctive particle: or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches that both liṅga and bera (icon) are valid loci of Śiva’s presence for worship; purity and sequence (yathākrama) are themselves devotional disciplines leading toward grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that orderly, reverent purification and offerings during Śiva worship cultivate inner śuddhi (purity) and devotion, supporting the devotee’s orientation toward Pati (Śiva) in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

The verse explicitly instructs cleansing and honoring the liṅga (and even the bera/icon), affirming Saguna worship as a valid, embodied means to approach the transcendent Lord through ritual purity and loving service.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform pūjā/abhisheka by offering fragrant āmalaka and turmeric in sequence, then washing the liṅga (or icon) with clean water—ideally accompanied by Śiva-mantra japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).