Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

कृत्वा शोभोपशोभाढ्यमैशान्यां तस्य कल्पयेत् । एकहस्तं तदर्धं वा पुनर्वेद्यः तु मंडलम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā śobhopaśobhāḍhyamaiśānyāṃ tasya kalpayet | ekahastaṃ tadardhaṃ vā punarvedyaḥ tu maṃḍalam

Translation

Sau khi chuẩn bị xong, nên sắp đặt ở góc đông‑bắc (Īśāna) của nơi ấy một khoảng không gian được trang hoàng đẹp đẽ, đầy các dấu hiệu cát tường. Rồi trên bàn thờ lại vạch một maṇḍala có kích thước một hasta—hoặc một nửa như thế.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having done’

• शोभा-उपशोभा-आढ्यम्: abundant in beauty and adornment
• शोभा-उपशोभा-आढ्यम्: Karma (कर्म; object-complement with कृत्वा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभा + उपशोभा + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘rich with beauty and embellishment’

• ऐशान्याम्: in the northeast (direction)
• ऐशान्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; दिक्-विशेष (northeast direction)

• तस्य: of that; its
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange; should construct
• कल्पयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप्/कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एक-हस्तम्: one hasta (a cubit)
• एक-हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म; measure as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• तत्-अर्धम्: half of that
• तत्-अर्धम्: Karma (कर्म; alternative measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘half of that’

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• वेद्यः: to be laid out as a vedi (altar)
• वेद्यः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण; predicate of maṇḍalam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘to be known/marked’ (here: ‘to be made/laid out as a vedi’)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (particle: but/indeed)

• मण्डलम्: circle; diagram; maṇḍala
• मण्डलम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject of implied ‘is/should be’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer order supports inner purification: preparing a beautiful, auspicious space—especially in the Īśāna (Shiva-presiding) direction—helps the devotee steady mind and intention for Shaiva worship leading toward grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

The verse gives procedural guidance for arranging the worship area and drawing the maṇḍala on the altar—supporting Saguna Shiva worship through the Linga, where sacred geometry and directionality (Īśāna) frame the devotee’s focused offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare the altar, emphasize the north-east (Īśāna) sector, and draw a worship maṇḍala of one hasta or half-hasta; then proceed with disciplined puja—typically accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) where applicable.