Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23
द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)
शिवायाश्च सखीवर्गं जपेद्ध्यात्वा समाहितः । एवं तृतीयावरणे वितते पूजिते सति
śivāyāśca sakhīvargaṃ japeddhyātvā samāhitaḥ | evaṃ tṛtīyāvaraṇe vitate pūjite sati
സമാഹിതചിത്തത്തോടെ ധ്യാനിച്ച് ശിവാ (പാർവതി)യുടെ സഖീവർഗത്തിന്റെ നാമ/മന്ത്രജപം ചെയ്യണം. ഇങ്ങനെ മൂന്നാം ആവരണം വിപുലപ്പെടുത്തി വിധിപൂർവ്വം പൂജിക്കപ്പെട്ടാൽ।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that worship is not merely external ritual: japa must be joined with dhyāna and samādhāna (collectedness). By honoring Śivā (Śakti) along with her retinue, the sādhaka approaches Śiva through the complete Shiva–Shakti reality, a key Shaiva understanding for purification and grace.
Avaraṇa-pūjā is a structured Saguna method: the devotee worships the central deity (often the Liṅga/Śiva) together with associated powers and attendants. Here, the third enclosure emphasizes Śivā’s aspect—showing that Liṅga worship is complemented by reverence to Śakti and her circles as part of a complete pūjā sequence.
Perform japa while simultaneously meditating, maintaining a steady, composed mind; specifically, recite the names/mantras of Śivā’s sakhīs as part of the third āvaraṇa in the maṇḍala/enclosure worship. This implies disciplined mantra-japa supported by dhyāna (rather than mechanical repetition).