Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

पूजां वैशेषिकीं कृत्वा शुक्लांबरधरः स्वयम् । शुक्लयज्ञोपवीती च शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनः

Transliteration

pūjāṃ vaiśeṣikīṃ kṛtvā śuklāṃbaradharaḥ svayam | śuklayajñopavītī ca śuklamālyānulepanaḥ

Translation

विशेष विधीची पूजा करून, स्वतः श्वेत वस्त्रे धारण करावीत; श्वेत यज्ञोपवीत घालावे आणि श्वेत माळा व अनुलेपनाने अलंकृत व्हावे।

Word by Word

• pūjām: worship
• pūjām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vaiśeṣikīm: special, particular
• vaiśeṣikīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiśeṣikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): ‘having done/performed’

• śukla-ambara-dharaḥ: wearing white garments
• śukla-ambara-dharaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक; √dhṛ धातु, अ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘शुक्लम् अम्बरं धरति’

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक-अव्यय (reflexive adverb: ‘oneself’)

• śukla-yajñopavītī: with a white sacred thread
• śukla-yajñopavītī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + yajñopavītin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘शुक्लं यज्ञोपवीतं यस्य’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: ‘and’)

• śukla-mālya-anulepanaḥ: with white garlands and unguents
• śukla-mālya-anulepanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ: ‘शुक्लं माल्यं च (शुक्लम्) अनुलेपनं च यस्य’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes śuddhi (ritual purity) and sattva for eligibility (adhikāra) in Śiva-pūjā and vrata; supports inner clarity conducive to Śiva’s anugraha.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva-pūjā is supported by sattvic discipline: external whiteness (clean clothing, thread, garlands) symbolizes inner purity, clarity, and focused devotion, aligning the worshipper toward grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

In saguna worship—especially Liṅga-pūjā—the devotee prepares the body and mind as a fit vessel for offering. The prescribed, orderly approach (vaiśeṣikī pūjā) frames the Liṅga as the accessible form of Pati (Śiva) through which devotion becomes concentrated and effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a sattvic preparation for Śiva-pūjā: bathe, wear clean (here, white) garments and sacred thread, use pure flowers and sandal/unguents, and then worship with steady mind—optionally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).