Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा द्विगुणमभ्यर्च्य देवं देवीमुपोष्य च । शिवस्यायुतमभ्यस्येद्ब्रह्मचर्यपुरस्सरम्

Transliteration

snātvā dviguṇamabhyarcya devaṃ devīmupoṣya ca | śivasyāyutamabhyasyedbrahmacaryapurassaram

Translation

സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് ഇരട്ട ഭക്തിയോടെ ദേവനെയും ദേവിയെയും ആരാധിച്ച് ഉപവാസം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. പിന്നെ ബ്രഹ്മചര്യത്തെ മുഖ്യനിയമമാക്കി ശിവമന്ത്രം പത്തായിരം പ്രാവശ്യം ജപാഭ്യാസം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त); pūrvakāla-kriyā

• dviguṇam: twice; twofold
• dviguṇam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvi + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (द्वितीया एकवचन) used as manner/measure; 'twofold'

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi + arc (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्); pūrvakāla-kriyā

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of abhyarcya

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of upoṣya

• upoṣya: having fasted (in observance)
• upoṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upa + vas (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्); upavāsa sense 'having fasted/observed a fast'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular; sambandha with āyutam

• āyutam: ten thousand (times)
• āyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of abhyasyet; numeral 'ten thousand'

• abhyasyet: should practice/repeat
• abhyasyet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; injunction

• brahmacarya-purassaram: preceded by celibacy (brahmacarya)
• brahmacarya-purassaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmacarya + purassara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with āyutam (as qualifier); compound: brahmacarya-purassara = 'having brahmacarya in front/preceding' (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Prescribes intensified sādhana (snāna, upavāsa, brahmacarya, mantra-japa) as a means to receive Śiva’s grace—typical of vrata-like preparatory discipline for higher worship.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

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 a Shaiva sadhana sequence—purification (snana), intensified worship, fasting, and disciplined continence—culminating in sustained mantra-abhyasa, which steadies the soul (paśu) and turns it toward Pati (Śiva) for grace and liberation.

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

The instruction to worship “the Lord and the Goddess” supports saguna upasana—ritual devotion to Śiva (often as the Liṅga) together with Śakti—where outer rites and inner japa cooperate to purify bonds (pāśa) and deepen devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Bathe, perform doubled worship (more offerings/attention), observe upavāsa (fast), keep brahmacarya, and complete ten thousand repetitions of Śiva-mantra (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as focused japa.