Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

इत्थमावरणाभ्यर्चां कृत्वाविक्षेपशांतये । पुनरभ्यर्च्य देवेशं पक्त्वाक्षरमुदीरयेत्

Transliteration

itthamāvaraṇābhyarcāṃ kṛtvāvikṣepaśāṃtaye | punarabhyarcya deveśaṃ paktvākṣaramudīrayet

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ മനസ്സിന്റെ വിക്ഷേപം ശമിപ്പാൻ ആവരണപൂജ നടത്തി, പിന്നെയും ദേവേശ്വരനായ ശിവനെ ആരാധിക്കണം; പവിത്ര അക്ഷരം മനസ്സിൽ ദൃഢമാക്കി മന്ത്രാക്ഷരം ജപിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आवरण-अभ्यर्चाम्: the worship of the enclosures (āvaraṇas)
• आवरण-अभ्यर्चाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (āvaraṇasya abhyarcā)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• विक्षेप-शान्तये: for the pacification of distraction
• विक्षेप-शान्तये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक) + शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dat. 4), एकवचन (sg.); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vikṣepasya śānti)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• देवेशम्: the Lord of the gods
• देवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक) [देव+ईश]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devānām īśaḥ)

• पक्त्वा: having cooked
• पक्त्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• अक्षरम्: the syllable (mantric sound)
• अक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• उदीरयेत्: should utter/recite
• उदीरयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Āvaraṇa-pūjā is presented as a practical means to quiet vikṣepa (mental scattering), enabling focused approach to the Lord—an inner pilgrimage from distraction to one-pointedness.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadiness of mind (vikṣepa-śānti) is essential for fruitful Śiva-upāsanā: outer ritual order (āvaraṇa-pūjā) supports inner concentration, culminating in mantra-recitation directed to Pati (Śiva) as liberator.

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

Āvaraṇa-pūjā and repeated worship indicate a structured saguna approach—honoring Śiva and His attendant powers—so the devotee’s mind becomes fit to abide in the Liṅga as the living presence of the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform āvaraṇa worship to settle distraction, then re-offer worship to Deveśa and recite the sacred syllable/mantra with a firmly fixed mind—practically, a pūjā followed by japa (often aligned with the Pañcākṣarī, “Namaḥ Śivāya”).