Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

पायसं दधिसंमिश्रं गौडं च मधुनाप्लुतम् । एतेष्वेकमनेकं वा नानाव्यंजनसंयुतम्

Transliteration

pāyasaṃ dadhisaṃmiśraṃ gauḍaṃ ca madhunāplutam | eteṣvekamanekaṃ vā nānāvyaṃjanasaṃyutam

Translation

പായസം, തൈര് ചേർത്ത അന്നം, കൂടാതെ ശർക്കര (ഗൗഡ) ചേർത്ത് തേൻ ഒഴിച്ച് നനച്ച മധുരപദാർത്ഥം—ഇവയിൽ ഒന്നോ പലതോ, വിവിധ വ്യഞ്ജനങ്ങളോടുകൂടെ അർപ്പിക്കാം.

Word by Word

• पायसम्: rice-milk pudding (pāyasa)
• पायसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as item to be offered (accusative implied)

• दधि-संमिश्रम्: mixed with curd
• दधि-संमिश्रम्: Vishesana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक) + संमिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying 'पायसम्'; तत्पुरुष: दध्ना संमिश्रम् (mixed with curd)

• गौडम्: jaggery (sweet)
• गौडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'jaggery/sweet made of molasses'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• मधुना: with honey
• मधुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• आप्लुतम्: drenched/soaked
• आप्लुतम्: Vishesana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ+√प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'soaked/drenched'

• एतेषु: among these
• एतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Locative plural; 'among these'

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; used substantively 'one (item)'

• अनेकम्: many
• अनेकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; used substantively 'many (items)'

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

• नाना-व्यञ्जन-संयुतम्: accompanied by various condiments/side-dishes
• नाना-व्यञ्जन-संयुतम्: Vishesana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (√युज् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying the chosen offering; तत्पुरुष: नानाव्यञ्जनैः संयुतम् (endowed with various side-dishes)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General naivedya-vidhi: specifies sattvika, sweet, nourishing offerings suitable for Śiva worship, echoing temple practice rather than a particular Jyotirliṅga legend.

Significance: Encourages offering of pure, nourishing foods (anna) as an act of devotion and sustenance (sthiti), cultivating humility and gratitude—key dispositions for receiving grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere bhakti expressed through pure, sattvic offerings—whether simple or abundant—supports Śiva-worship and helps the devotee loosen pāśa (bondage) by cultivating humility, gratitude, and devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse describes naivedya suitable for Saguna worship of Śiva in the form of the Liṅga, where the devotee honors the Lord through tangible offerings; the act of offering is a devotional upacāra that purifies the mind and steadies it for higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer sattvic naivedya (pāyasa, curd-mixed food, jaggery sweets with honey) during Śiva-pūjā, ideally while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintaining purity and a devotional, non-possessive attitude toward the offering.