Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

नित्यं प्रदीपिता दीपाः शस्ताः कर्पूरसंयुताः । पञ्चगव्यं च मधुरं पयो दधि घृतं तथा

Transliteration

nityaṃ pradīpitā dīpāḥ śastāḥ karpūrasaṃyutāḥ | pañcagavyaṃ ca madhuraṃ payo dadhi ghṛtaṃ tathā

Translation

ദീപങ്ങൾ നിത്യവും തെളിയിച്ചിരിക്കണം—കർപ്പൂരസമ്യുക്തമായവ അത്യുത്തമം. കൂടാതെ മധുരമായ പഞ്ചഗവ്യം, പാൽ, തൈര്, നെയ്യ് എന്നിവയും അർപ്പിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसक-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• प्रदीपिताः: kindled, lit
• प्रदीपिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दीप् (धातु) → प्रदीपित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दीपाः: lamps
• दीपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• शस्ताः: commended, approved
• शस्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कर्पूर-संयुताः: mixed with camphor
• कर्पूर-संयुताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (कर्पूरेण संयुताः)

• पञ्च-गव्यम्: pañcagavya (five cow-products)
• पञ्च-गव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (fivefold cow-products)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes nitya-puja (daily worship) through light and pure offerings, expressing steady bhakti to Pati (Shiva) and cultivating inner purity (śuddhi) that supports liberation.

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

Lighting a lamp and offering pañcagavya, milk, curd, and ghee are classic upacāras for Saguna Shiva as the Linga—honoring Shiva’s accessible form while remembering His transcendence beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a daily lamp (dīpa) before the Shiva Linga—optionally with camphor fragrance—and perform simple abhiṣeka/naivedya with pañcagavya or dairy offerings, accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”