Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

एवमंतर्बहिर्वाथयथाशक्तिविनिर्मितैः । स्थाने शिलामये दांते दारवे चेष्टकामये

Transliteration

evamaṃtarbahirvāthayathāśaktivinirmitaiḥ | sthāne śilāmaye dāṃte dārave ceṣṭakāmaye

Translation

Vì thế, dù thờ phụng trong tâm hay ngoài nghi lễ, hãy hành trì theo khả năng của mình; an lập (liṅga—biểu tượng của Śiva) ở nơi thích hợp, dù bằng đá, bằng ngà, hay bằng gỗ, tùy theo ý nguyện và mục đích chí thành của người thờ kính.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• अन्तः: inside
• अन्तः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

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

• अथ: then
• अथ: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक (then/now)

• यथा-शक्ति-विनिर्मितैः: with things constructed according to one’s ability
• यथा-शक्ति-विनिर्मितैः: करण (Karaṇa/instrumental association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + विनिर्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव (यथाशक्ति) + विशेषण (विनिर्मितैः)

• स्थाने: in a place
• स्थाने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शिला-मये: made of stone
• शिला-मये: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (शिलामयः = शिलया/शिलायाः निर्मितः) विशेषण (स्थाने)

• दन्ते: in/with ivory (lit. tooth)
• दन्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• दारवे: in/with wood
• दारवे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• इष्ट-कामये: in a desired/pleasing (one)
• इष्ट-कामये: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + कामय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (इष्टं काम्यं वा) विशेषण (स्थाने)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms accessibility of Śiva-worship: the Lord accepts worship shaped by capacity (yathāśakti), supporting household practice and localized shrines alongside major tīrthas.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere devotion is primary: worship may be internal (meditative) or external (ritual), and should be performed according to one’s capacity, emphasizing humility, steadiness, and right intention toward Śiva as Pati (the liberating Lord).

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

It affirms Saguna worship through a consecrated symbol—such as a stone, ivory, or wooden liṅga—while also validating inner worship, showing that the liṅga is a support for devotion and concentration leading the bound soul (paśu) toward Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Choose a suitable place and establish a liṅga made from accessible material for regular pūjā; complement it with inner worship—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and calm contemplation—performed consistently within one’s means.