Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

आवाहयेत्ततो देव्या शिवं परमकारणम् । शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं देवं निश्चलमक्षरम्

Transliteration

āvāhayettato devyā śivaṃ paramakāraṇam | śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ devaṃ niścalamakṣaram

Translation

ਤਦੋਂ ਦੇਵੀ ਪਰਮ ਕਾਰਣ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਦਾ ਆਵਾਹਨ ਕਰੇ—ਉਹਨੂੰ ਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਸਫਟਿਕ ਵਰਗੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਮਾਨ, ਅਚਲ ਅਤੇ ਅਖੰਡ (ਅਵਿਨਾਸ਼ੀ) ਦੇਵ ਵਜੋਂ ਧਿਆਏ।

Word by Word

• आवाहयेत्: should invoke
• आवाहयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); विधिलिङ्-समर्थ आदेशार्थ प्रयोगः

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kāla/Anantara (काल/अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (singular)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• परमकारणम्: the supreme cause
• परमकारणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) शिवम्-विशेष्यक

• शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशम्: resembling pure crystal
• शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध + स्फटिक + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) देवं/शिवम्-विशेष्यक; समासः: (शुद्धस्य स्फटिकस्य) संकाशः इव

• देवम्: the God
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• निश्चलम्: immovable/steady
• निश्चलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) देवम्-विशेष्यक

• अक्षरम्: imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) देवम्-विशेष्यक

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific jyotirliṅga passage; it gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa: Śiva as paramakāraṇa, crystal-radiant, niścalākṣara—used across temples and household worship.

Significance: Teaches the inner act that empowers outer worship: āvāhana with correct visualization yields darśana and grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi

FAQs

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

It teaches that true worship begins with inner invocation (āvāhana) of Śiva as the Paramakāraṇa—beyond change—recognized as the imperishable (akṣara) reality who grants liberation.

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

Even when Śiva is worshiped in a saguna form (such as the Liṅga in pūjā), the devotee is instructed to contemplate His nirvikāra nature—pure, steady, and undecaying—so the outer rite is united with inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna during pūjā: invoke Śiva mentally and visualize Him as crystal-pure and motionless; this becomes the inner foundation for mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and subsequent offerings.