Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 55

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

ततश्चाचमनं कृत्वा शंभवे परमात्मने । पश्चाच्च पंचभिर्द्रव्यैः स्नापयेच्छंकरं मुदा

Transliteration

tataścācamanaṃ kṛtvā śaṃbhave paramātmane | paścācca paṃcabhirdravyaiḥ snāpayecchaṃkaraṃ mudā

Translation

नंतर शंभू परमात्म्यास आचमन करून, आनंदाने पाच द्रव्यांनी शंकराचे स्नान (अभिषेक) करावे.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• ācamanam: sipping (ritual) water; ācamana
• ācamanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācāmana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• śaṃbhave: to Śambhu
• śaṃbhave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• paramātmane: to the Supreme Self
• paramātmane: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमः आत्मा), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (afterwards)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• paṃcabhiḥ: with five
• paṃcabhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; (with five)

• dravyaiḥ: substances; materials
• dravyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• snāpayet: should bathe (cause to be bathed)
• snāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (स्ना धातु) [णिच् causative: स्नापयति]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative)

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/भाव), एकवचन; भाववाचक (with joy)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-pūjā procedure to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya within Rudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General abhiṣeka-vidhi: bathing the Liṅga as the ‘Paramātman’ emphasizes that the icon is a grace-medium (anugraha-upāya), not merely symbolic.

Significance: Abhiṣeka with pañcadravya is treated as a high-merit act that purifies the worshipper (paśu) and loosens pāśa (bondage) through devotion and Śiva’s acceptance.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship begins with inner and outer purification (ācamana) and culminates in joyful devotion (mudā) offered to Śiva as Paramātman—showing that ritual is meant to awaken pure consciousness and loving surrender to Pati (the Lord).

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

The instruction to “bathe Śaṅkara” points to Śiva’s saguna accessibility in worship—most commonly through Liṅga-abhiṣeka—while simultaneously affirming His nirguna reality as Paramātman; the form serves as the doorway to the formless truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ācamana first, then do abhiṣeka with five sacred substances (commonly understood as pañcāmṛta in practice), maintaining a joyful, mantra-centered attitude—ideally with Panchākṣara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during the offering.