Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् । दिव्यायुधवरैर्युक्तं दिव्यगंधानुलेपनम्

Transliteration

sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpannaṃ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam | divyāyudhavarairyuktaṃ divyagaṃdhānulepanam

Translation

അവൻ എല്ലാ മംഗളലക്ഷണങ്ങളാലും സമ്പന്നനും എല്ലാ ആഭരണങ്ങളാലും അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടവനും ആയിരുന്നു; ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ദിവ്യായുധങ്ങളോടെ യുക്തനും ദിവ്യസുഗന്ധ അനുലേപനത്തോടെ ലേപിതനുമായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नम्: endowed with all marks/characteristics
• सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-लक्षण-संपन्न (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjectival)

• सर्वाभरणभूषितम्: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्वाभरणभूषितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-आभरण-भूषित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दिव्यायुधवरैः: with excellent divine weapons
• दिव्यायुधवरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य-आयुध-वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• युक्तम्: endowed/connected (with)
• युक्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘युक्त’ = joined/connected

• दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्: divine fragrant unguent/anointing
• दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्: विशेष्य/कर्म (Object/Complement; context-dependent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य-गन्ध-अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General iconography: ‘all auspicious marks’, ‘all ornaments’, ‘divine weapons’, and ‘divine fragrance’ portray Śiva as sovereign Lord who both protects and bestows boons; not a site-specific legend.

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as sarvalakṣaṇa-sampanna and divyāyudha-yukta supports śaraṇāgati (refuge) and protection; fragrance/unguent imagery aligns with devotional upacāra and purity.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-style vision of the Lord’s saguna manifestation—perfect in auspicious signs and divine splendor—so the devotee can steady the mind in reverent contemplation and awaken bhakti that leads toward Shiva’s grace.

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

While the Liṅga points to Shiva’s transcendence, such descriptions support saguna upāsanā: the devotee meditates on Shiva’s glorious attributes to concentrate devotion, which ultimately matures into insight into the formless (nirguṇa) reality indicated by the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna by visualizing Shiva as ‘sarvalakṣaṇasampanna’ and radiant; during pūjā, offer gandha (fragrant paste/perfume) and mentally dedicate all adornments to the Lord, optionally repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize attention.