Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

केवलामुष्मिकविधिः — The Rite for Exclusive Otherworldly Attainment

Liṅga-Abhiṣeka and Padma-Pūjā Protocol

Devanagari script

पातालवासिभिर्दैत्यैः शेषाद्यैश्च महोरगैः । सिद्धैर्यक्षैश्च गंधर्वै रक्षोभूतपिशाचकैः

Transliteration

pātālavāsibhirdaityaiḥ śeṣādyaiśca mahoragaiḥ | siddhairyakṣaiśca gaṃdharvai rakṣobhūtapiśācakaiḥ

Translation

പാതാളവാസികളായ ദൈത്യന്മാരാലും, ശേഷാദി മഹോരഗങ്ങളാലും; സിദ്ധന്മാർ, യക്ഷന്മാർ, ഗന്ധർവന്മാർ, രാക്ഷസന്മാർ, ഭൂതങ്ങൾ, പിശാചുകൾ എന്നിവരാലും (അവിടെ) സാന്നിധ്യം ഉണ്ടായി.

Word by Word

• पातालवासिभिः: by the dwellers of Pātāla
• पातालवासिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल-वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक; पाताल + वासिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; तृतीया-बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• दैत्यैः: by the demons (Daityas)
• दैत्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• शेषाद्यैः: by Śeṣa and others
• शेषाद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; शेष + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘शेषादि’ = ‘शेषः आदिः येषाम्’ (Śeṣa and others)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महोरगैः: by the great serpents
• महोरगैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-उरग (प्रातिपदिक; महा + उरग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् उरगः’

• सिद्धैः: by the Siddhas
• सिद्धैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• यक्षैः: by the Yakṣas
• यक्षैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गन्धर्वैः: by the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• रक्षोभूतपिशाचकैः: by Rākṣasas, Bhūtas, and Piśācakas
• रक्षोभूतपिशाचकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्-भूत-पिशाचक (प्रातिपदिक; रक्षस् + भूत + पिशाचक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (collective listing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a direct Jyotirliṅga passage; the inclusion of bhūtas/piśācas and pātāla beings evokes Śiva’s Bhairava ecology—Lordship extending to liminal and subterranean realms.

Significance: General: affirms Śiva’s sovereignty over all lokas and all classes of beings; even those associated with fear/impurity are integrated under Śiva’s order when oriented to dharma.

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Shesha
• Maha-uragas (Nagas)
• Siddhas
• Yakshas
• Gandharvas
• Rakshasas
• Bhutas
• Pishachas

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Shiva’s all-pervading lordship (Pati): beings from every realm—netherworld, celestial, and liminal—are included, showing that devotion and participation in Shiva’s sphere transcends social or cosmic rank.

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

By listing diverse classes of beings gathered together, the text reflects how Saguna Shiva—often worshipped as the Linga—becomes the accessible center of reverence for all, while still pointing to the higher truth that Shiva is the one Lord over every loka.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is inclusive Shiva-smaraṇa: chant the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the attitude that Shiva is the refuge of all beings; offer simple Linga-pūjā with purity of mind, irrespective of status or circumstance.