Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10
द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)
द्वितीयावरणे चेज्यास्सर्वर्तश्चक्रवर्तिनः । तृतीयावरणे पूज्याः शक्तिभिश्चाष्टमूर्तयः
dvitīyāvaraṇe cejyāssarvartaścakravartinaḥ | tṛtīyāvaraṇe pūjyāḥ śaktibhiścāṣṭamūrtayaḥ
द्वितीय आवरणात सर्वार्थसिद्धी करणारे चक्रवर्ती पूज्य आहेत. तृतीय आवरणात शक्तींसह शिवाच्या अष्टमूर्तींचे पूजन करावे.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-worship is approached in ordered “enclosures” (āvaraṇas): one honors supporting divine principles and cosmic orders, then proceeds inward toward Śiva’s own cosmic manifestations (Aṣṭamūrti) united with Śakti—showing that liberation arises from Pati (Śiva) realized along with His inseparable power.
Āvaraṇa-pūjā is a Saguna method: the Liṅga is worshipped at the center while surrounding layers of related deities/principles are honored in sequence. The verse specifies that, as worship deepens, attention moves from worldly sovereignty (cakravartin ideals) to Śiva’s Aṣṭamūrti—His immanent presence in the cosmos—together with Śakti.
Perform Liṅga-pūjā with āvaraṇa-nyāsa/āvaraṇa-arcana: worship the second enclosure’s presiding powers, then the third enclosure by invoking Śiva’s Aṣṭamūrti with their Śaktis, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a steady contemplative focus on Śiva as both transcendent and immanent.