Shloka 159

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

आचम्य वा जपेच्छेषं कृत्वा वा प्राणसंयमम् सूर्यो ऽग्निश्चन्द्रमाश्चैव ग्रहनक्षत्रतारकाः

Transliteration

ācamya vā japeccheṣaṃ kṛtvā vā prāṇasaṃyamam sūryo 'gniścandramāścaiva grahanakṣatratārakāḥ

Translation

आचम्य वा जपेच्छेषं कृत्वा वा प्राणसंयमम्। सूर्योऽग्निश्चन्द्रमाश्चैव ग्रहनक्षत्रतारकाः॥

Word by Word

• आचम्य (ācamya): having sipped water for purification (ācamana)

• वा (vā): or

• जपेत् (japet): one should recite (japa)

• शेषम् (śeṣam): the remainder, what is left

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done

• वा (vā): or

• प्राण-संयमम् (prāṇa-saṃyamam): restraint/control of prāṇa (breath discipline)

• सूर्यः (sūryaḥ): the Sun

• अग्निः (agniḥ): Fire

• चन्द्रमाः (candramāḥ): the Moon

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed/also

• ग्रह (graha): planets

• नक्षत्र (nakṣatra): lunar mansions/asterisms

• तारकाः (tārakāḥ): stars

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śaiva ritual discipline to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Agni
• Chandra
• Grahas
• Nakshatras
• Tarakas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prescribes the preparatory discipline for Śiva-mantra japa in Liṅga-pūjā—purification through ācamana and inner steadiness through prāṇa-saṃyama—so the pashu (individual soul) approaches Pati (Śiva) with reduced pasha (impurity and distraction).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By directing contemplation to Sun, Fire, Moon, planets, nakṣatras, and stars, it implies that the entire cosmic rhythm functions as a regulated manifestation under Śiva’s lordship—Śiva as Pati, the inner governor (antaryāmin) who orders both ritual fire and celestial time.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ācamana (ritual sipping for purity) and prāṇa-saṃyama (breath restraint/prāṇāyāma) as immediate supports for mantra-japa—an applied Pāśupata-style integration of outer śauca (purity) and inner yoga for focused worship.