Shloka 27

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

मध्ये देवीं स्थापयित्वा पञ्चायतनदेवताः । चतुर्द्दिक्षु स्थापयेद्यस्तस्य पुण्यं न गण्यते

Transliteration

madhye devīṃ sthāpayitvā pañcāyatanadevatāḥ | caturddikṣu sthāpayedyastasya puṇyaṃ na gaṇyate

Translation

Ai an vị Nữ Thần ở trung tâm rồi sắp đặt các thần của pañcāyatana ở bốn phương—công đức của người ấy không thể đếm lường.

Word by Word

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (locative adverb) ‘in the middle’

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• स्थापयित्वा: having installed
• स्थापयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु) (causative: स्थापय-)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund) causative sense, ‘having installed/placed’

• पञ्च-आयतन-देवताः: the deities of the five shrines (pañcāyatana)
• पञ्च-आयतन-देवताः: Karma (कर्म; object of स्थापयेत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (पञ्चानाम् आयतनानां देवताः / पञ्चायतनस्य देवताः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• चतुर्-दिक्षु: in the four directions
• चतुर्-दिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु समास (चतस्रः दिशः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन

• स्थापयेत्: should install
• स्थापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु) (causative: स्थापय-)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative ‘should install’

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म; of gaṇyate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• गण्यते: is counted/estimated
• गण्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गण् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it prescribes a temple-layout theology: Devī at the center with pañcāyatana deities in the quarters, expressing cosmic order and stabilizing dharma.

Significance: Encourages a harmonized sacred geography (mandala-like) where Śakti is central; such installation is said to yield immeasurable merit and sustained auspiciousness for the community.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that properly ordered worship—placing Devī (Śakti) at the center and honoring the pañcāyatana deities in the directions—creates immeasurable puṇya, because it reflects harmony of Pati (Śiva) and Śakti and a complete, integrated devotion.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship is supported by orderly installation (sthāpana) and reverence to associated divine powers; centering Devī emphasizes Śiva-Śakti unity, which culminates in stable devotion to Śiva (often through the Liṅga) as the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a structured pūjā arrangement (pañcāyatana-style) with a central deity and directional placements; during worship one may maintain japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and offer reverent upacāras in a disciplined sequence.