Shloka 4

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

पश्चिमे च ततस्तस्मिन्षडंगानि समर्चयेत । आग्नेये च तथैशाने नैरृते वायुदेशके

Transliteration

paścime ca tatastasminṣaḍaṃgāni samarcayeta | āgneye ca tathaiśāne nairṛte vāyudeśake

Translation

پھر مغرب کی سمت میں وہاں شَڈَنگوں کی باقاعدہ ارچنا کرے۔ اسی طرح آگنیہ، ایشان، نَیرِتیہ اور وायु کی سمت میں بھی اپنے اپنے مقام پر ویسی ہی پوجا انجام دے۔

Word by Word

• paścime: in the west (western direction)
• paścime: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय)

• tasmin: in that (place/point)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• ṣaṭ-aṃgāni: the six limbs (sixfold parts)
• ṣaṭ-aṃgāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Plural (बहुवचन); Dvigu compound (द्विगु-समास) meaning a set of six limbs

• sam-arcayet: should worship/offer reverence to
• sam-arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• āgneye: in the southeast (Agni corner)
• āgneye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgneya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• tathā: likewise/so
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• īśāne: in the northeast (Īśāna corner)
• īśāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nairṛte: in the southwest (Nairṛta corner)
• nairṛte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vāyu-deśake: in the Vāyu region (northwest)
• vāyu-deśake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + deśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) sense: ‘region of Vāyu’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasha Samhita’s ritual instructions to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: kavaca

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vayu
• Agni
• Ishana
• Nirriti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shiva-worship is not casual but consecrated: the practitioner sanctifies the body and space through the ṣaḍaṅga (six auxiliaries) and aligns worship with cosmic order (dik), turning the ritual into an integrated, disciplined approach to grace (śiva-anugraha).

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

In Linga-puja, the ṣaḍaṅga functions as a protective and empowering framework (nyāsa/anga-samarcana) around Saguna Shiva’s worship—establishing mantra, purity, and directional sanctity so the devotee approaches the Linga with right orientation and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa/ṣaḍaṅga-arcana—worshipping hṛdaya, śiras, śikhā, kavaca, netra, and astra—while honoring prescribed directions (west, Agni, Īśāna, Nirṛti, and Vāyu), typically alongside Shiva-mantra japa (often the Panchakshara).