Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 65

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

प्रोक्षयेत्प्रोक्षणीयानि गाननाट्यानि कारयेत् । लिंगादौ शिवयोश्चिन्तां कृत्वा शक्त्यजपेच्छिवम्

Transliteration

prokṣayetprokṣaṇīyāni gānanāṭyāni kārayet | liṃgādau śivayościntāṃ kṛtvā śaktyajapecchivam

Translation

ପ୍ରୋକ୍ଷଣୀୟ ସମସ୍ତକୁ ପବିତ୍ର ଜଳରେ ପ୍ରୋକ୍ଷିତ କରିବ ଏବଂ ଗାନ-ନାଟ୍ୟାଦି କରାଇବ। ପଛରେ ଲିଙ୍ଗ ଆଦିରେ ଶକ୍ତିସହିତ ଶିବଙ୍କ ଚିନ୍ତନ କରି, ନିଜ ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ ଅନୁସାରେ ଶିବମନ୍ତ୍ର ଜପ କରିବ।

Word by Word

• प्रोक्षयेत्: should sprinkle
• प्रोक्षयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उक्ष् (धातु) [उक्ष् सेचने]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• प्रोक्षणीयानि: things to be sprinkled
• प्रोक्षणीयानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोक्षणीय (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); अनीयर्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: ‘to be sprinkled’)

• गान-नाट्यानि: songs and dances
• गान-नाट्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान (प्रातिपदिक) + नाट्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (song and dance)

• कारयेत्: should cause to be done/arrange
• कारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग

• लिङ्ग-आदौ: in/at the liṅga and related (place/items)
• लिङ्ग-आदौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); ‘लिङ्गम् आदिः यस्य’ इति आद्यर्थक-तत्पुरुष

• शिवयोः: of the two Śivas (Śiva and Śakti)
• शिवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• चिन्ताम्: meditation, contemplation
• चिन्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शक्त्या: with power/with Śakti
• शक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जपेत्: should recite (japa)
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु) [जप् व्यक्तायां वाचि]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• शिवम्: Śiva (name/mantra)
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Linga

FAQs

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

It links outer purification (prokṣaṇa and devotional offerings like song) with inner realization: steady contemplation of Pati (Śiva) united with Śakti, culminating in mantra-japa that purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens pāśa (bondage).

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

The Liṅga is treated as a principal focus for Saguna worship, where the devotee meditates on Śiva together with Śakti present in the form; this integrated upāsanā turns ritual into living contemplation rather than mere external act.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform prokṣaṇa (sprinkling/consecration), support devotional gāna and nāṭya, then do japa of Śiva’s mantra—such as the Pañcākṣarī—according to one’s capacity, while holding focused dhyāna on Śiva-Śakti in the Liṅga.