Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

पूजाविधान-व्याख्या (Pūjāvidhāna-vyākhyā) — Exposition of the Procedure of Worship

Devanagari script

दक्षिणे चोत्तरे चैव नंदीशं सुयशं तथा । आराध्य मनसा सम्यगासनं कल्पयेद्बुधः

Transliteration

dakṣiṇe cottare caiva naṃdīśaṃ suyaśaṃ tathā | ārādhya manasā samyagāsanaṃ kalpayedbudhaḥ

Translation

دایاں اور بایاں—دونوں جانب—دانشمند سالک اپنے دل و ذہن سے بلند نام نندیश्वर کی ٹھیک ٹھیک عبادت کرے؛ اور باطن میں اُن کی پوجا کر کے پھر عبادت کے لیے آسن کو درست طور پر مرتب کرے۔

Word by Word

• दक्षिणे: on the right (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

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

• उत्तरे: on the left/northern side
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Modifier (विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• नन्दीशम्: Nandīśa (Nandin)
• नन्दीशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• सुयशम्: of good fame, renowned
• सुयशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/प्रादि: सु + यशस्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नन्दीशम्)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चय-अव्यय (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund, ल्यप्/क्त्वा); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having worshipped)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• आसनम्: seat/throne (asana)
• आसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; विधि/आज्ञा

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ritual spatialization: Nandīśa is honored on the right and left (directional placement around the worship-space), then the worshipper establishes/assumes the āsana—signaling guardianship and stability before approaching Śiva.

Significance: In temples, Nandī’s presence is central to Śiva-darśana; honoring Nandī cultivates humility and steadiness, preparing the pilgrim’s mind for focused worship.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śaiva worship begins with inner alignment: by mentally honoring Nandīśa—symbol of devotion, discipline, and dharma—the seeker prepares the mind as a fit seat (āsana) for approaching Pati (Śiva).

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

Nandī is traditionally stationed before Śiva’s presence, especially in Linga worship; mentally venerating Nandī first signifies respectful entry into Saguna worship and steadies attention before offering to the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Manasa-pūjā (mental worship) followed by proper āsana-vidhi: arranging and taking a steady seat for japa/dhyāna—commonly alongside Panchākṣarī practice ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") in Śaiva observance.