Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

नवरत्नचितं दिव्यं हेमदण्डमनोहरम् । चामरे च सिते सूक्ष्मे चामीकरपरिष्कृते

Transliteration

navaratnacitaṃ divyaṃ hemadaṇḍamanoharam | cāmare ca site sūkṣme cāmīkarapariṣkṛte

Translation

พวกเขานำพัดหางจามรีอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ประดับนพรัตน์ งามด้วยด้ามทองคำมา และยังนำพัดหางจามรีสีขาวเนื้อละเอียดสองอัน ซึ่งตกแต่งด้วยทองคำมาด้วย

Word by Word

• नवरत्नचितम्: adorned with nine gems
• नवरत्नचितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव-रत्न-चित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √चि (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘चित’ = ‘accumulated/strewn’; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नवानि रत्नानि यस्मिन् चितानि)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• हेमदण्डमनोहरम्: charming with a golden handle/staff
• हेमदण्डमनोहरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम-दण्ड-मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (हेमस्य दण्डः; दण्डेन मनोहरम्/दण्डयुक्तं मनोहरम्)

• चामरे: two fly-whisks (cāmaras)
• चामरे: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रायः), प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; अत्र विशेष्य-रूपेण (द्वे चामरे)

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

• सिते: white (two)
• सिते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; ‘चामरे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सूक्ष्मे: fine, delicate (two)
• सूक्ष्मे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; ‘चामरे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• चामीकरपरिष्कृते: adorned with gold
• चामीकरपरिष्कृते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चामीकर-परिष्कृत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from परि+√कृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘परिष्कृत’ = ‘adorned/finished’; समासः तत्पुरुषः (चामीकरेण परिष्कृते)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Cāmara-sevā and gem-inlaid ritual implements signify continuous temple attendance (paricaryā) and honor to Śiva; such services are traditionally credited with prosperity and purification of the devotee’s karma.

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti expressed through respectful upachāras (honorific services): offering gem-studded and golden implements symbolizes the devotee’s surrender of wealth and pride into Shiva’s worship, refining the mind toward purity and grace.

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

Chāmara-sevā and ornamented ritual items belong to Saguna worship—serving Shiva as the personal Lord present in the Linga or icon—where devotion is embodied through tangible acts of reverence while aiming inwardly at the Supreme (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests upachāra-pūjā (service offerings) performed with steadiness and purity; paired in practice with mental japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while offering honors, so external service supports inner concentration.