Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

षडध्व-शुद्धिः

Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path

Devanagari script

अघोरं दक्षिणे वामे वामं सद्यं च पश्चिमे । रक्षां विधाय मुद्रा च बद्ध्वा कुंभाभिमंत्रणम्

Transliteration

aghoraṃ dakṣiṇe vāme vāmaṃ sadyaṃ ca paścime | rakṣāṃ vidhāya mudrā ca baddhvā kuṃbhābhimaṃtraṇam

Translation

Ilagay ang (mantra ng) Aghora sa kanan, ang Vāma sa kaliwa, at ang Sadya sa kanluran; itatag ang banal na pag-iingat (rakṣā). Pagkaraan, buuin at patatagin ang angkop na mudrā, at sa pamamagitan ng mantra ay basbasan ang kumbha, ang banga ng tubig-ritwal, upang maganap ang gawain sa ilalim ng pag-iingat ni Śiva.

Word by Word

• अघोरम्: Aghora (mantra/deity-aspect)
• अघोरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: on the right (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशावाचक

• वामे: on the left (side)
• वामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशावाचक

• वामम्: Vāma (mantra/deity-aspect)
• वामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सद्यः: Sadyojāta (aspect)
• सद्यः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्यः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (पाठभेदे सद्यं = सद्यः)

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

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशावाचक

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विधाय: having performed/arranged
• विधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), उपसर्ग: वि-; ‘having done/arranged’

• मुद्राम्: mudrā (ritual hand-gesture/seal)
• मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• बद्ध्वा: having bound
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having bound’

• कुम्भाभिमन्त्रणम्: invocation/consecration of the pot
• कुम्भाभिमन्त्रणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ + अभिमन्त्रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुम्भस्य अभिमन्त्रणम् = consecration/chanting over the pot)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: Pañcabrahma orientation: Aghora (dakṣiṇa), Vāmadeva (vāma), Sadyojāta (paścima) with Īśāna/Puruṣa implied from prior verse; kumbhābhimantraṇa follows.

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-worship is not merely external: mantra-placement and protective rakṣā align the practitioner’s space and awareness with Śiva’s auspicious power, reducing obstacles and steadying the mind for devotion and inner purification (a Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis on grace aiding disciplined practice).

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

The kumbha and its mantra-consecration function as a sanctified support for Saguna worship—preparing the ritual field for offerings to the Liṅga. By invoking Śiva’s aspects (Aghora, Vāma, Sadya/Sadyojāta), the devotee approaches the Liṅga as the living presence of Pati (Śiva) who blesses and protects the rite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates a rakṣā-vidhi with nyāsa-like placement of mantras and the use of mudrā, followed by kumbha-abhimantraṇa (mantra consecration of the water-pot) before proceeding to abhiṣeka or other Śaiva pūjā steps.