Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

आस्वपृष्ठादिदेशेषु रत्नचामीकराचितः । काहलानि च रम्याणि नानानादकराणि च

Transliteration

āsvapṛṣṭhādideśeṣu ratnacāmīkarācitaḥ | kāhalāni ca ramyāṇi nānānādakarāṇi ca

Translation

വാഹനങ്ങളുടെ പൃഷ്ഠാദി ഭാഗങ്ങളിൽ രത്നവും സ്വർണ്ണവും പതിപ്പിച്ച ആഭരണങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. കൂടാതെ മനോഹരമായ കാഹളങ്ങൾ (തൂര്യങ്ങൾ)യും നാനാവിധ നാദം ഉളവാക്കുന്ന മറ്റു വാദ്യങ്ങളും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अश्व: horse
• अश्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (horse)

• पृष्ठ: back
• पृष्ठ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (back)

• आदि: and other
• आदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, 'etc./and the like' (आदि-शब्दः)

• देशेषु: in the regions/places
• देशेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (अश्वपृष्ठादि-देशेषु = in places such as the horse's back etc.)

• रत्न: jewels
• रत्न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (jewel)

• चामीकर: gold
• चामीकर: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामीकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (gold)

• आचितः: inlaid/filled
• आचितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + चि (धातु) → आचित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रत्नचामीकरेण आचितः = inlaid/filled with)

• काहलानि: kettle-drums/war-drums
• काहलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (context: listed items)

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

• रम्याणि: beautiful/pleasing
• रम्याणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying काहलानि)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/विशेषण)
• Form: अव्यय, विविधार्थक (various)

• नाद: sound
• नाद: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (sound)

• कराणि: sound-producing
• कराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नानानादं कुर्वन्ति = producing various sounds)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the sanctified splendor surrounding Shiva’s sphere, showing that when the senses are oriented toward Pati (Shiva), even sound and ornament become expressions of bhakti rather than bondage.

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

The verse supports Saguna contemplation—Shiva’s manifest glory inspires devotion—while ultimately pointing the devotee toward the Linga as the stable focus through which the mind is gathered and offered to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use sacred sound in worship—chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and accompanying it with devotional music or conch/trumpet-like auspicious sounds—so hearing becomes a disciplined limb of Shiva-bhakti.