Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

शिवे तु चिंतिते साक्षात्सर्वाः सिध्यन्ति सिद्धयः । मूर्त्यंतरेषु ध्यातेषु शिवरूपं विचिंतयेत्

Transliteration

śive tu ciṃtite sākṣātsarvāḥ sidhyanti siddhayaḥ | mūrtyaṃtareṣu dhyāteṣu śivarūpaṃ viciṃtayet

Translation

جب خود شیو کا براہِ راست چنتن کیا جائے تو تمام سِدھّیاں حاصل ہو جاتی ہیں۔ دیگر دیوتاؤں کی مورتیوں کا دھیان کرتے ہوئے بھی انہیں شیو-روپ ہی سمجھ کر چنتن کرنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• शिवे: in/with regard to Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (locative)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• चिंतिते: when (he is) contemplated
• चिंतिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle) ‘चिन्तित’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (locative absolute sense with शिवे)

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: directly/manifestly)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of सिद्धयः)

• सिध्यन्ति: are accomplished
• सिध्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सिद्धयः: attainments/powers
• सिद्धयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• मूर्त्यन्तरेषु: in other forms
• मूर्त्यन्तरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): मूर्तेः अन्तरम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• ध्यातेषु: when (they are) meditated upon
• ध्यातेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle) ‘ध्यात’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; (locative absolute with मूर्त्यन्तरेषु)

• शिवरूपम्: Śiva’s form
• शिवरूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): शिवस्य रूपम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विचिंतयेत्: should contemplate
• विचिंतयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विध्यर्थ (injunctive/should)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; it articulates a Śaiva hermeneutic of deity-forms: all mūrtis are to be contemplated as Śiva-rūpa, with direct contemplation of Śiva granting siddhi.

Significance: Establishes Śiva as the universal devatā behind all forms; supports inclusive worship while maintaining Śiva as Pati and final refuge for mokṣa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva (Pati) is the direct, supreme object of contemplation; when the mind rests in Śiva, all attainments arise naturally, and liberation is approached by centering awareness on the Lord rather than on limited powers.

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

It supports Saguna upāsanā as a doorway to the Supreme: whether one worships the Śiva-liṅga or any revered form, the devotee should recognize the inner reality as Śiva, unifying devotion and leading the mind toward the highest Śiva-tattva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyāna is emphasized: meditate on Śiva directly; if using another iṣṭa-devatā form, consciously superimpose Śiva-nature upon it. Practically, this aligns with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while holding a steady Śiva-bhāva in the heart.