Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

मंडलस्थं महादेवं ध्यात्वाभ्यर्च्य यथाविधि । दद्यादर्घ्यं ततस्तस्मै शिवायादित्यरूपिणे

Transliteration

maṃḍalasthaṃ mahādevaṃ dhyātvābhyarcya yathāvidhi | dadyādarghyaṃ tatastasmai śivāyādityarūpiṇe

Translation

سورج کے منڈل میں مقیم مہادیو کا دھیان کرکے اور مقررہ وِدھی کے مطابق پوجا کر کے، پھر اُس آدِتیہ-روپ شِو کو اَर्घ्य پیش کرے جو سب کو نور بخشتا اور مَنگل عطا کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• maṃḍala-stham: situated in the maṇḍala (circle)
• maṃḍala-stham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṃḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—मण्डले स्थितः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• mahā-devam: Mahādeva
• mahā-devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—महान् देवः (कर्मधारय)

• dhyātvā: having meditated
• dhyātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having meditated’

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) उपसर्गः अभि-; ‘having worshipped’

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed rite
• yathā-vidhi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial): ‘according to rule’

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• arghyam: arghya-offering (water of respect)
• arghyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक (then/thereafter)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śivāya: to Śiva
• śivāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• āditya-rūpiṇe: to the one whose form is the Sun
• āditya-rūpiṇe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः—आदित्यस्य रूपं यस्य (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes Sūrya-maṇḍala-dhyāna as a Śaiva upāsanā: seeing Śiva as the inner light (antarjyotis) that removes mala and grants auspiciousness (śivatva).

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Sūrya-maṇḍala contemplation (solar orb as theophany)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya (Aditya)

FAQs

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

It teaches a Shaiva mode of upāsanā where the devotee contemplates Śiva as the inner Light within the sun-disc—recognizing Him as the sustaining, revealing consciousness—then seals that contemplation through arghya, an act of reverent surrender seeking His anugraha (grace).

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

The verse presents Saguna worship: Śiva is approached through a perceivable divine form (Āditya). Like liṅga-upāsanā, it uses a concrete support for meditation (ālambana) so the mind becomes steady and devotional, ultimately leading toward realization of Śiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dhyāna on Mahādeva in the solar maṇḍala, worship Him yathāvidhi, and then offer arghya (a respectful water-offering). This is a disciplined blend of meditation and rite, suitable for daily worship and observances such as Mahāśivarātri.