Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

तस्याः पुरस्तादुत्कंठमनंतं कुण्डलाकृतिम् । धवलं पञ्चफणिनं लेलिहानमिवाम्बरम्

Transliteration

tasyāḥ purastādutkaṃṭhamanaṃtaṃ kuṇḍalākṛtim | dhavalaṃ pañcaphaṇinaṃ lelihānamivāmbaram

Translation

เบื้องหน้าของนาง ปรากฏอนันตะ (เศษะ) ชูคอสูง ขดเป็นวงดุจต่างหู ผิวขาวผ่อง มีห้าเศียร และดูประหนึ่งกำลังเลียท้องฟ้าด้วยลิ้นทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

• पुरस्तात्: in front
• पुरस्तात्: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (spatial adverb)

• उत्कण्ठम्: raised-necked/with uplifted throat
• उत्कण्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (descriptive)

• अनन्तम्: endless/Ananta
• अनन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कुण्डल-आकृतिम्: coil-shaped
• कुण्डल-आकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘कुण्डलस्य आकृतिः’ (having the form of a coil/earring)

• धवलम्: white
• धवलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पञ्च-फणिनम्: five-hooded (serpent)
• पञ्च-फणिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + फणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः/द्विगुवत् परिमाणनिर्देशः: ‘पञ्च फणाः यस्य’ (five-hooded)

• लेलिहानम्: licking (its lips/tongue)
• लेलिहानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लेलिहान (प्रातिपदिक; √लिह् (धातु) से वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘लिहन्’ (licking)

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle)

• अम्बरम्: the sky/space
• अम्बरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Ananta (Shesha)

FAQs

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

Ananta (Śeṣa) symbolizes the endless (ananta) ground of existence—time, continuity, and cosmic stability—before which the finite self stands in awe. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, it hints that even the vast supports of the cosmos remain within the Lord’s order, while liberation comes by turning from the bound world (paśu–pāśa) toward Pati, Shiva.

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

The vivid, visible form of Ananta is a Saguna sign within the narrative world, preparing the mind for reverent focus. Like Linga-worship, it trains attention from awe of cosmic forms toward the One Lord who transcends them—Shiva as the inner ruler of all manifestations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna: contemplate the vastness of Ananta as a reminder of the Lord’s immeasurable power, then steady the mind on Shiva with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”). If observing Mahāśivarātri, combine japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and inward surrender to Pati.