Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

रं वह्नयेति स्वाहेति मध्ये हुत्वाहुतित्रयम् । सर्पिषा वा समिद्भिर्वा परिषेचनमाचरेत्

Transliteration

raṃ vahnayeti svāheti madhye hutvāhutitrayam | sarpiṣā vā samidbhirvā pariṣecanamācaret

Translation

‘രം’, ‘വഹ്നയേ’, ‘സ്വാഹാ’—ഈ ക്രമത്തിൽ അഗ്നിയിൽ ത്രിവിധ ആഹുതി അർപ്പിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് നെയ്യുകൊണ്ടോ സമിധകളുകൊണ്ടോ പരിഷേചന (ചുറ്റി തളിക്കൽ/പരിവേഷ്ടനം) കർമ്മം ആചരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• रम्: the seed syllable “raṃ”
• रम्: Sambodhana/Mantra (सम्बोधन/मन्त्र)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय)
• Form: बीजाक्षरम्; अव्यय (mantra-syllable, indeclinable)

• वह्नये: to Agni (fire)
• वह्नये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/दative, 4th); एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• स्वाहा: “svāhā”
• स्वाहा: Sambodhana/Mantra (सम्बोधन/मन्त्र)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative, 1st); एकवचन; मन्त्रशब्दः

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (locative, 7th); एकवचन

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having offered’

• आहुति-त्रयम्: the three oblations
• आहुति-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहुति (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative, 2nd); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रयम् आहुतिनाम्)

• सर्पिषा: with ghee
• सर्पिषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental, 3rd); एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• समिद्भिः: with fuel-sticks
• समिद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समिध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental, 3rd); बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• परिषेचनम्: sprinkling (ritual aspersion)
• परिषेचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिषेचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative, 2nd); एकवचन

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: रं वह्नये स्वाहा (raṃ vahnaye svāhā)

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined mantra-guided worship: the fire oblation purifies the practitioner’s intention and senses, making the mind fit to approach Pati (Shiva) through regulated ritual and inner concentration.

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

Homa supports Saguna Shiva worship by sanctifying the environment and the devotee; the purified offering and mantra become auxiliary limbs of Shaiva pūjā, preparing one for Linga-upāsanā and steadiness in devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A short homa practice is indicated: offer three oblations with the mantra sequence including raṁ and svāhā, then perform pariṣecana using ghee or samidh, maintaining focused japa and reverence to the sacred fire.