Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

शिवाचार्याभिषेकविधिः / Rite of Consecrating a Śiva-Teacher (Śivācārya Abhiṣeka)

Devanagari script

इत्थमादिश्य तं शिष्यं शिवमुद्वास्य मंडलात् । शिवकुंभानलादींश्च सदस्यानपि पूजयेत्

Transliteration

itthamādiśya taṃ śiṣyaṃ śivamudvāsya maṃḍalāt | śivakuṃbhānalādīṃśca sadasyānapi pūjayet

Translation

Tendo assim instruído o discípulo, deve-se despedir Śiva do maṇḍala de modo cerimonial; e também venerar o Śiva-kumbha (vaso consagrado), o fogo sagrado e os demais oficiantes presentes.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• आदिश्य: having instructed
• आदिश्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having instructed’

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• शिष्यम्: disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva (state/connection with Śiva)
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; (अत्र: ‘शिवं’ = शिव-सम्बन्धिनं/शिवभावं प्रापितम्)

• उद्वास्य: having removed/dismissed
• उद्वास्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्√वास् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having dismissed/removed’

• मण्डलात्: from the maṇḍala (ritual circle)
• मण्डलात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• शिवकुम्भानलादीन्: the Śiva-pot, the fire, and others
• शिवकुम्भानलादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-कुम्भ-अनल-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समास-विग्रहः: शिवकुम्भं च अनलं च आदयः ये (Śiva-pot, fire, and the rest)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सदस्यान्: the members (of the assembly/ritual)
• सदस्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (also)

• पूजयेत्: should worship/honor
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is completed with discipline and reverence: after receiving instruction, one must properly conclude the invoked presence (udvāsana) and then honor the sacred supports of worship—kumbha, fire, and the assisting devotees—so the rite becomes whole and auspicious.

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

The verse reflects Saguna worship where Śiva is invoked into a consecrated space (maṇḍala) and supported through ritual media like the kumbha and homa fire; after the intended worship, the invoked presence is respectfully concluded, preserving the sanctity of Linga-centered and mantra-centered practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates udvāsana (formal conclusion of invocation) after maṇḍala worship, followed by honoring the Śiva-kumbha and homa-agni; as a practical takeaway, conclude japa/puja with a closing prayer and gratitude to the ritual supports and helpers, maintaining purity and order in Shaiva observance.