Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

उपमन्युरुवाच । पुण्ये ऽहनि शुचौ देशे बहुदोषविवर्जिते । देशिकः प्रथमं कुर्यात्संस्कारं समयाह्वयम्

Transliteration

upamanyuruvāca | puṇye 'hani śucau deśe bahudoṣavivarjite | deśikaḥ prathamaṃ kuryātsaṃskāraṃ samayāhvayam

Translation

อุปมันยุกล่าวว่า “ในวันอันเป็นมงคล ณ สถานที่บริสุทธิ์ปราศจากโทษมากประการ อาจารย์พึงประกอบสังสการก่อนเป็นอันดับแรกที่เรียกว่า ‘สมยะ-อาหฺวยะ’ เพื่อสถาปนาศิษย์ให้ตั้งมั่นในระเบียบแห่งการบูชาพระศิวะ”

Word by Word

• उपमन्युः: Upamanyu
• उपमन्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुण्ये: on an auspicious
• पुण्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—काल)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of अहनि)

• अहनि: day
• अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुचौ: in a pure
• शुचौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of देशे)

• देशे: place
• देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बहुदोषविवर्जिते: free from many faults
• बहुदोषविवर्जिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—स्थान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + दोष + विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; वि√वर्ज् + क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of देशे); समासः—बहवः दोषाः येन विवर्जिताः (बहु-दोष = कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय), ततः ‘बहुदोषविवर्जित’ = बहुदोषैः विवर्जितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• देशिकः: the teacher/preceptor
• देशिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘first/at first’ (adverbial accusative)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संस्कारम्: rite/ceremony
• संस्कारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समयाह्वयम्: called ‘Samaya’
• समयाह्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समय + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of संस्कारम्); समासः—समयः आह्वयः यस्य (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय)

Speaker

Upamanyu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-sādhana begins with right preparation: purity of time and place, and a guru-established discipline (samaya) that aligns the seeker (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati) and loosens bonds (pāśa) through regulated practice.

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

Before formal Liṅga-pūjā, the teacher institutes the correct observance and ritual framework so the worship is not merely external, but a sanctified approach to Saguna Śiva that supports inner purification and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests beginning with a guru-led saṃskāra establishing a vow/discipline (samaya), performed on an auspicious day in a clean, fault-free place—forming the basis for subsequent mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) and Śiva-pūjā.