Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

शास्तृमातृसमूहस्य मध्ये भृंगीश्वरं ततः । मातृविघ्नेशमध्ये तु वीरभद्रं समर्चयेत्

Transliteration

śāstṛmātṛsamūhasya madhye bhṛṃgīśvaraṃ tataḥ | mātṛvighneśamadhye tu vīrabhadraṃ samarcayet

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ശാസ്തൃയും മാതൃസമൂഹവും തമ്മിലുള്ള മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ ഭൃംഗീശ്വരനെ പൂജിക്കണം. മാതൃഗണവും വിഘ്നേശനും ഇടയിൽ വീരഭദ്രനെ വിധിപൂർവ്വം സമർച്ചിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• śāstṛ-mātṛ-samūhasya: of the group of Śāstṛ and the Mothers
• śāstṛ-mātṛ-samūhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + samūha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive, 6th), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: 'śāstṛ-mātṝṇāṃ samūhaḥ' (group of Śāstṛ and Mothers)

• madhye: in the middle/between
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Saptamī (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• bhṛṃgī-īśvaram: Bhṛṅgīśvara
• bhṛṃgī-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛṃgī (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: 'bhṛṃgyāḥ īśvaraḥ' (Bhṛṅgīśvara)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रम/अनन्तरबोधक अव्यय)

• mātṛ-vighneśa-madhye: in the space between the Mothers and Vighneśa
• mātṛ-vighneśa-madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + vighneśa (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Saptamī (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: 'mātṝṇāṃ ca vighneśasya ca madhye' (between the Mothers and Vighneśa)

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Vākyasaṃbandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• vīrabhadram: Vīrabhadra
• vīrabhadram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrabhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• sam-arcayet: one should duly worship
• sam-arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative, विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it is an āvaraṇa placement: Bhṛṅgīśvara amid Śāstā and the Mātṛkās, and Vīrabhadra between Mātṛkās and Vighneśa—reflecting Śiva’s protective and punitive retinue around the worship-space.

Significance: Invokes protective containment of the ritual field: Mātṛkās stabilize śakti-forces; Vīrabhadra guards against transgression and ritual obstacles; Bhṛṅgī embodies exclusive Śiva-bhakti and disciplined attendance.

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shasta
• Matrikas
• Bhringi (Bhringisha)
• Ganesha (Vighnesha)
• Virabhadra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches ordered, harmonious worship within a Śaiva sacred layout: Śiva’s śaktis (the Mātṛkās) and attendants (Bhṛṅgī, Vīrabhadra) are honored in their proper places, expressing that Saguna Śiva’s grace flows through His divine retinue and powers, removing inner obstacles to steadiness in bhakti and yoga.

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

It supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā by prescribing subsidiary worship around the main Śaiva focus (often the Liṅga): Gaṇeśa as obstacle-remover, the Mātṛkās as Śiva’s śakti-manifestations, and Vīrabhadra/Bhṛṅgī as gaṇas—together forming a complete ritual ecology that safeguards and perfects Liṅga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nyāsa-like “placement worship” (āvāhana/arcana by position): while performing Śiva-pūjā, mentally or ritually install and honor Bhṛṅgīśvara amid Śāstā and the Mātṛkās, and Vīrabhadra between the Mātṛkās and Gaṇeśa—then proceed with offerings, ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).