Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

उच्चावचानि रम्याणि शयनानि सुखानि च । नद्यस्समुद्रगामिन्या नटाद्वाम्भः समाहृतम्

Transliteration

uccāvacāni ramyāṇi śayanāni sukhāni ca | nadyassamudragāminyā naṭādvāmbhaḥ samāhṛtam

Translation

ഉയർന്നതും താഴ്ന്നതുമായ പലവിധ മനോഹര ശയനങ്ങളും സുഖകരമായ കിടക്കകളും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; സമുദ്രത്തിലേക്ക് ഒഴുകുന്ന നദിയിൽ നിന്ന് ഘടങ്ങളിൽ വെള്ളം കൊണ്ടുവന്നു.

Word by Word

• उच्च-अवचानि: various (high and low)
• उच्च-अवचानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्च + अवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (high and low/various)

• रम्याणि: delightful
• रम्याणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शयनानि: beds
• शयनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सुखानि: comfortable
• सुखानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• समुद्र-गामिन्याः: of the sea-going (river)
• समुद्र-गामिन्याः: Sambandha/Viśeṣaṇa (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्र + गामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (समुद्रं गच्छति इति) used as qualifier of नदी: ‘of the sea-going (river)’

• नटात्: from a dancer/actor
• नटात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

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

• अम्भः: water
• अम्भः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समाहृतम्: collected, brought together
• समाहृतम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicate (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘brought/collected’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse evokes tīrtha-sourcing: bringing water from a river ‘going to the ocean’ as a sanctifying act for Śiva-sevā, paralleling later tīrtha-mahātmyas where specific waters are prescribed for abhiṣeka.

Significance: Emphasizes tīrtha-jala as purifier for abhiṣeka; collecting sacred water is itself a devotional discipline (niyama) supporting Śiva’s worship.

FAQs

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

It highlights the devotional culture of preparing a pure, welcoming space—comfort, cleanliness, and sacred water—where outward order supports inward reverence to Pati (Shiva) and steadiness of mind.

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

Bringing clean water and arranging proper resting places reflects upacāra (attentive services) offered in Saguna Shiva worship, where the Linga is honored through orderly preparations, purification, and respectful hospitality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śauca (purity) and jalopacāra—using clean water for ablution/offerings—performed with bhakti and mental recollection of Shiva (e.g., silent japa of the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya, while preparing offerings).