Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama

Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple

Devanagari script

ततः स्नातं समाचांतं कृतस्वस्त्ययनं शिशुम् । प्रवेश्य मंडलाभ्यासं प्रणिपत्य च दंडवत्

Transliteration

tataḥ snātaṃ samācāṃtaṃ kṛtasvastyayanaṃ śiśum | praveśya maṃḍalābhyāsaṃ praṇipatya ca daṃḍavat

Translation

त्यानंतर बालकाला स्नान घालून, आचमन करून आणि स्वस्त्ययन विधी करून, त्याला मंडल-अभ्यासासाठी आत प्रवेश करविला; आणि त्याने दंडवत् प्रणाम केला.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (thereafter)

• स्नातम्: bathed
• स्नातम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘bathed’—‘शिशुम्’ विशेषण

• सम्: properly (prefix)
• सम्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग

• आचान्तम्: having performed ācamana
• आचान्तम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु) → आचान्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘sipped (water) for purification’—‘शिशुम्’ विशेषण

• कृत: performed
• कृत: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); समासपूर्वपद; ‘done/performed’

• स्वस्त्ययनम्: svastyayana rite/benediction
• स्वस्त्ययनम्: कर्म (as part of adjective phrase)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्ति + अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-सन्निकर्ष): ‘स्वस्ति-आयन’ = auspicious rite/benediction

• शिशुम्: the child
• शिशुम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रवेश्य: having led (him) in
• प्रवेश्य: पूर्वकाल (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/त्वान्त-समकक्ष (absolutive): ‘having caused to enter/leading in’

• मण्डल: circle/mandala
• मण्डल: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासपूर्वपद

• अभ्यासम्: practice/repetition
• अभ्यासम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मण्डलस्य अभ्यासः (practice of the mandala)

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: पूर्वकाल (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive): ‘having bowed down’

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• दण्डवत्: like a staff; fully stretched (prostration)
• दण्डवत्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that approach to Shiva begins with śauca (purification) and humility—outer cleansing (snāna, ācamana) supports inner readiness, and daṇḍavat-pranāma expresses surrender of the ego before Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse outlines preparatory rites and entry into a consecrated maṇḍala—typical of Saguna Shiva worship where the devotee approaches the Linga or sanctified space only after purification and auspicious invocations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform snāna and ācamana, receive/recite svastyayana (protective auspicious mantras), enter the worship maṇḍala, and offer daṇḍavat-pranāma—then proceed to mantra-japa or pūjā with steadiness and devotion.