Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama

Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple

Devanagari script

कुर्यात्तस्य शिखाच्छेदं सह सूत्रेण देशिकः । ततस्तां गोमये न्यस्य शिवाग्नौ जुहुयाच्छिखाम्

Transliteration

kuryāttasya śikhācchedaṃ saha sūtreṇa deśikaḥ | tatastāṃ gomaye nyasya śivāgnau juhuyācchikhām

Translation

Vị đạo sư truyền dīkṣā hãy cắt bỏ búi tóc đỉnh đầu (śikhā) của người ấy, cùng với sợi chỉ thiêng. Rồi đặt śikhā ấy lên phân bò (làm nhiên liệu thanh tịnh) và dâng búi tóc vào lửa Śiva như một lễ hiến—tượng trưng phó thác căn tính cũ cho Chúa Tể và an lập đệ tử trên đạo lộ của Śiva.

Word by Word

• kuryāt: should do/make
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him/of that (disciple)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śikhā-cheदम: cutting of the topknot
• śikhā-cheदम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक) + cheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: śikhāyāḥ chedaḥ = 'cutting of the topknot'

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), preposition-like particle (सह-योगे) governing Instrumental

• sūtreṇa: with the thread
• sūtreṇa: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• deśikaḥ: the teacher/preceptor
• deśikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tām: that (topknot)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gomaye: in/on cow-dung
• gomaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nyasya: having placed
• nyasya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+as (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having placed'

• śiva-agnau: in the Śiva-fire
• śiva-agnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: śivasya agniḥ = 'Śiva-fire' (sacred fire)

• juhuyāt: should offer (as oblation)
• juhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śikhām: the topknot
• śikhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Symbolic saṃhāra: consigning former markers of identity (śikhā, sūtra) into Śiva’s fire.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts a dīkṣā (initiation) act where the guru ritually ends the disciple’s former social-ritual identity (topknot and thread) and offers it into Śiva’s fire, expressing surrender to Pati (Śiva) and the beginning of liberation from pāśa (bondage).

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

The “Śiva-fire” represents Saguna Śiva’s consecrated presence in ritual; offering the śikhā into it is an external act mirroring inner worship—dedicating the self to Śiva as the accessible Lord, akin to offering oblations before the Liṅga with mantra and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A formal Shaiva initiation context is implied: the guru performs a purificatory rite and fire-offering (homa) in Śiva’s name; the practical takeaway is disciplined renunciation and mantra-centered devotion (e.g., sustained japa and worship) under a qualified preceptor.