Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

आलेपनं चन्दनं स्यान्मूलकाष्ठंरजोमयम् । कस्तूरिका कुंकुमं च रसो मृगमदात्मकः

Transliteration

ālepanaṃ candanaṃ syānmūlakāṣṭhaṃrajomayam | kastūrikā kuṃkumaṃ ca raso mṛgamadātmakaḥ

Translation

ശിവപൂജയിലെ ആലേപനത്തിനായി ചന്ദനമാണ് വിധിച്ചത്—അതിന്റെ മൂലകാഷ്ഠവും ഹൃദയകാഷ്ഠവും പൊടിച്ച് ലേപമാക്കണം. കസ്തൂരിയും കുങ്കുമവും ഉപയോഗ്യമാണ്; സുഗന്ധിരസം മൃഗമദസ്വഭാവമാണെന്ന് പറയുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ālepanaṃ: smearing/paste
• ālepanaṃ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ālepana (प्रातिपदिक; √lip लेपने धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Sing.)

• candanaṃ: sandalwood
• candanaṃ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Sing.)

• syāt: may be / should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Sing.)

• mūla-kāṣṭham: root-wood
• mūla-kāṣṭham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa; 'root-wood'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Sing.)

• rajo-mayam: made of dust/pollen
• rajo-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa; 'made of dust/pollen'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Sing.); विशेषण (adjective)

• kastūrikā: musk (kasturi)
• kastūrikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kastūrikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (Sing.)

• kuṃkumaṃ: saffron/vermilion
• kuṃkumaṃ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṃkuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Sing.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• rasaḥ: essence/juice
• rasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (Sing.)

• mṛga-mada-ātmakaḥ: consisting of deer-musk
• mṛga-mada-ātmakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa; 'having the nature of deer-musk'), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (Sing.); विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Gandha (fragrant unguent) signifies honoring the Lord as the supreme recipient of all rasas; disciplined sensory offerings become a means for the paśu to redirect desire into devotion and receive prasāda.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śuddhi (purity) and bhakti (devotion) expressed through fragrant, sattvic offerings—symbolizing the devotee’s intent to consecrate body and mind to Pati (Śiva) while loosening pasha (bondage) through reverent worship.

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

Anointing the Śiva-liṅga with sandal paste and auspicious fragrances is a classic saguna upacāra (visible act of devotion). The fragrance signifies honoring Śiva’s manifest presence while remembering He remains transcendent beyond all substances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare chandan paste (ground from root/heartwood) and offer it as ālepana to the liṅga, ideally while japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—maintaining a calm, pure, one-pointed mind.