Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

मूर्तिमन्तं शिवं साक्षाच्छक्त्या परमया सह । तत्रावाह्य महादेवं सदसद्व्यक्तिवर्जितम्

Transliteration

mūrtimantaṃ śivaṃ sākṣācchaktyā paramayā saha | tatrāvāhya mahādevaṃ sadasadvyaktivarjitam

Translation

Doon, anyayahan si Śiva—na tunay na naroroon sa anyong may katawan—kasama ang Kanyang kataas-taasang Śakti. Pagkaraan, sambahin si Mahādeva, na lampas sa hayag at di-hayag, at higit sa lahat ng hangganan ng pagkakabukod-bukod.

Word by Word

• मूर्तिमन्तम्: embodied, having form
• मूर्तिमन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्तिमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly
• साक्षात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शक्त्या: with/through (His) power (Śakti)
• शक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• परमया: supreme
• परमया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies शक्त्या)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/सहयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह-योगे (postposition meaning 'with')

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘आवाह्य’ = having invoked

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक: महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्-असत्-व्यक्ति-वर्जितम्: devoid of manifestation as being/non-being
• सत्-असत्-व्यक्ति-वर्जितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies महादेवम्); ‘वर्जित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from √वर्ज्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied in the pūjā-krama) namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that while devotees invoke and worship Śiva in a tangible, saguna form together with His Śakti, the truth realized through that worship is Mahādeva’s transcendence beyond all categories—manifest/unmanifest and limited individuality—leading the soul toward liberation.

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

The verse supports āvāhana and pūjā of Śiva as ‘mūrtimān’ (worshipable presence), which aligns with Linga and icon worship; yet it simultaneously affirms that the worshipped Lord is not confined to the symbol or form, but is the Pati beyond both gross manifestation and subtle unmanifestation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to āvāhana (invocation) of Śiva with Śakti during Śiva-pūjā, followed by contemplative meditation that the invoked Lord is beyond all limiting distinctions—supporting mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) and inward dhyāna alongside external worship.