Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

अंगुष्ठानामिकायोगादादाय तमुदीरयेत् । न्यसेदीशानभागस्य मध्ये लिंगस्य मंत्रवित्

Transliteration

aṃguṣṭhānāmikāyogādādāya tamudīrayet | nyasedīśānabhāgasya madhye liṃgasya maṃtravit

Translation

அங்குஷ்டமும் மோதிர விரலும் சேர்த்து அதனை எடுத்துக் கொண்டு மந்திரம் உச்சரிக்க வேண்டும்; பின்னர் மந்திரவித் சாதகர் ஈசானப் பகுதியில், லிங்கத்தின் நடுவில் அதனை ந்யாசமாக நிறுவ வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठ-अनामिका-योगात्: from the joining of the thumb and ring-finger
• अङ्गुष्ठ-अनामिका-योगात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅguṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + anāmikā (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अङ्गुष्ठस्य अनामिकायाश्च योगः)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (क्त्वा-र्थे absolutive/gerund); ‘having taken’

• तम्: him/that (it)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उदीरयेत्: should raise; should utter
• उदीरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√īr (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न्यसेत्: should place; should deposit
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ईशान-भागस्य: of the Īśāna portion/side
• ईशान-भागस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ईशानस्य भागः)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• लिङ्गस्य: of the liṅga
• लिङ्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• मन्त्र-वित्: the knower of mantras
• मन्त्र-वित्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः; ‘मन्त्रान् वेत्ति’ (knower of mantras)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Ishana

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship becomes effective when guided by mantra-vidyā and precise nyāsa—directing the mind and prāṇa into the Liṅga as Pati (Shiva), so devotion is stabilized by disciplined ritual awareness.

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

The Liṅga is approached as Saguna Shiva for worship, and the mention of the Īśāna portion shows a sacred orientation within the Liṅga, where the devotee places the mantra-charged act as a focused offering to Shiva’s auspicious, grace-bestowing aspect.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A finger-gesture (thumb–ring finger contact) combined with mantra-recitation and nyāsa: taking the consecrated offering/energy, uttering the mantra, and placing it at the center of the Liṅga in the Īśāna direction as a concentrated act of worship.