Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

पौरुषे गुग्गुलं सव्ये सौम्ये सौगंधिकं मुखे । ईशाने ऽपि ह्युशीरादि देयाद्धूपं विशेषतः

Transliteration

pauruṣe guggulaṃ savye saumye saugaṃdhikaṃ mukhe | īśāne 'pi hyuśīrādi deyāddhūpaṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Para o aspecto Pauruṣa, deve-se oferecer incenso de guggulu; no lado esquerdo, a fragrância Saumya; na boca/face, um perfume de aroma doce. E também na direção de Īśāna, deve-se apresentar especialmente incenso feito de uśīra e semelhantes.

Word by Word

• pauruṣe: in (the face) called Pauruṣa
• pauruṣe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (पौरुषे [मुखे])

• guggulam: guggulu resin
• guggulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guggulu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• savye: in the left (face)
• savye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (सव्ये [मुखे])

• saumye: in (the face) called Saumya
• saumye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (सौम्ये [मुखे])

• saugaṃdhikam: fragrant substance/incense
• saugaṃdhikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saugaṃdhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mukhe: in the face/mouth
• mukhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• īśāne: in (the face) called Īśāna
• īśāne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (ईशाने [मुखे])

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• uśīra-ādi: uśīra etc. (vetiver and the like)
• uśīra-ādi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uśīra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आदि’ = ‘and the like’; अत्र देयात् इति क्रियायाः कर्मरूपेण (accusative sense)

• deyāt: one should offer/give
• deyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; विध्यर्थक

• dhūpam: incense
• dhūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्) (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (adverb): ‘विशेषेण’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Vāyavīya Saṃhitā teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General dhūpa-vidhi: assigns specific incense substances (guggulu, saugandhika, uśīra) to Pauruṣa, Saumya/left, mouth, and Īśāna direction.

Significance: Supports disciplined temple/home worship by mapping offerings to directions/aspects—training the bound soul (paśu) toward ordered devotion and receptivity to grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana

FAQs

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

It teaches that Saguna Śiva worship is performed with precision and reverence—offering specific fragrances to specific aspects/directions symbolizes aligning the worshipper’s senses and mind to the ordered presence of Pati (Śiva), supporting inner purity and devotion.

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

The verse gives upacāra-guidance (ritual services) for Śiva-pūjā, indicating that the Liṅga is honored not only as the transcendental Lord but also through manifested aspects (like Īśāna) and sacred spatial directions, making the worship tangible and disciplined.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer dhūpa (incense) such as guggulu and uśīra according to the prescribed placement/direction—especially toward Īśāna (northeast)—while maintaining a focused, devotional mind (bhakti) as part of formal Śiva-pūjā.