Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

राजहंसद्वयाकारे रत्नदंडोपशोभिते । दर्पणं चापि सुस्निग्धं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्

Transliteration

rājahaṃsadvayākāre ratnadaṃḍopaśobhite | darpaṇaṃ cāpi susnigdhaṃ divyagandhānulepanam

Translation

അവിടെ ഒരു ദിവ്യദർപ്പണം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; രത്നഖചിതമായ ദണ്ഡം രാജഹംസദ്വയാകൃതിയിൽ ശോഭിച്ചു. അതി മൃദുവും ദീപ്തിമാനുമായ അതിൽ ദിവ്യസുഗന്ധ ലേപനം ചെയ്തിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• राजहंस: royal swan
• राजहंस: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (as first member), कर्मधारयः (राजा इव हंसः / राज्ञः हंसः)

• द्वय: pair of two
• द्वय: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) → द्वय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/विशेषणरूपेण समासपूर्वपद (pair/two)

• आकारे: in the form/shape
• आकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (राजहंसद्वयस्य आकारः)

• रत्न: jewel
• रत्न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद (gem/jewel)

• दण्ड: staff/handle
• दण्ड: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद (staff/rod/handle)

• उपशोभिते: adorned with a jeweled handle
• उपशोभिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + शुभ् (धातु) → उपशोभित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/सप्तमी एकवचन (locative agreeing with आकारे); तत्पुरुषः (रत्नदण्डेन उपशोभितः)

• दर्पणम्: mirror
• दर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also)

• सुस्निग्धम्: very smooth/glossy
• सुस्निग्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दर्पणम्)

• दिव्य: divine
• दिव्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (divine)

• गन्ध: fragrance
• गन्ध: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (fragrance)

• अनुलेपनम्: anointing/perfumed unguent
• अनुलेपनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + लिप् (धातु) → अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक/भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिव्यगन्धेन अनुलेपनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the sanctity and refinement of Shaiva worship—external purity and beauty in ritual items symbolically point to inner clarity (like a mirror) required for recognizing Pati (Shiva) beyond pasha (bondage).

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

Such described articles belong to saguna-upasana (worship with form and attributes), where careful preparation—cleanliness, fragrance, and auspicious symbolism—supports focused devotion to Shiva as the accessible Lord worshiped in the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests attentive puja-seva: keeping worship implements pure and fragrant, and using the ‘mirror’ symbolism for self-examination—cultivating inner cleanliness while offering gandha (fragrant unguents) in Shiva worship.