Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)

Devanagari script

उतथ्यो वामदेवश्च महाकालो महा ऽनिलः । वाचःश्रवाः सुवीरश्च श्यावकश्च यतीश्वरः

Transliteration

utathyo vāmadevaśca mahākālo mahā 'nilaḥ | vācaḥśravāḥ suvīraśca śyāvakaśca yatīśvaraḥ

Translation

“(Baginda dikenali sebagai) Utathya dan Vāmadeva; Mahākāla dan Angin Agung (Mahā’nila); Vācaḥśravā, Suvīra, Śyāvaka, serta Yatīśvara, Tuhan para pertapa.”

Word by Word

• utathyaḥ: Utathya
• utathyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name

• vāmadevaḥ: Vāmadeva
• vāmadevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (वामः देवः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• mahākālaḥ: Mahākāla
• mahākālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (महान् कालः)

• mahā: great
• mahā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; used adjectivally with ‘anilaḥ’

• anilaḥ: Anila (Wind)
• anilaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vācaḥ-śravāḥ: Vācaḥśravāḥ
• vācaḥ-śravāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vācas (प्रातिपदिक) + śravas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाचः श्रवः यस्य/वाचः श्रवः) as a name

• suvīraḥ: Suvīra
• suvīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (सु-वीरः = very/brave hero)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• śyāvakaḥ: Śyāvaka
• śyāvakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śyāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• yatīśvaraḥ: Yatīśvara
• yatīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यतीनां ईश्वरः = lord of ascetics)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: The epithet “Mahākāla” evokes Śiva as Time itself and the Lord who subdues death; in Jyotirliṅga lore Mahākāleśvara manifests as the self-revealed Lord who grants fearlessness from kāla (time/death) and presides over the cremation-ground mystery of Ujjayinī.

Significance: Darśana/abhiṣeka is sought for victory over fear of death, removal of time-bound afflictions, and steadiness in vairāgya.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahakala
• Vamadeva

FAQs

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

The verse presents multiple sacred names of Shiva, indicating that the one Pati (Lord) is approached through many aspects—Time (Mahākāla), life-breath (Mahā’nila), auspicious grace (Vāmadeva), and ascetic mastery (Yatīśvara)—guiding the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation by remembrance and devotion.

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

These epithets function as Saguna gateways: while Shiva is ultimately beyond attributes, devotees worship the Linga while contemplating specific divine qualities such as Mahākāla (transcending death) and Vāmadeva (benevolent protection), making Linga-worship a focused, name-supported meditation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and dhyāna: repeat Shiva’s names (especially Mahākāla and Yatīśvara) alongside the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating detachment and yogic steadiness; this is well-suited for Mahāśivarātri vrata and daily Linga-pūjā.