Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

महेश्वरागमनं तथा नीराजन-सत्कारवर्णनम् / The Arrival of Maheśvara and the Rite of Welcome

Nīrājana

Devanagari script

हिमाचलोऽपि मुदितो द्वाराचारमथाकरोत् । मेनापि सर्वनारीभिर्महोत्सवपुरस्सरम्

Transliteration

himācalo'pi mudito dvārācāramathākarot | menāpi sarvanārībhirmahotsavapurassaram

Translation

喜马恰罗亦满怀欢悦，随即在门前安排合乎仪轨的迎门礼；而梅娜也与众妇女一道走在前方，为这盛大庆典引路开道。

Word by Word

• himācalaḥ: Himācala (Himālaya)
• himācalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himācala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि-कार (also/even)

• muditaḥ: joyful
• muditaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from mud)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• dvāra-ācāram: the door-rite/threshold ceremony
• dvāra-ācāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• atha: then
• atha: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आरम्भ/अनन्तरबोधक (then/now)

• akarot: did/performed
• akarot: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• menā: Menā
• menā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: menā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि-कार

• sarva-nārībhiḥ: with all the women
• sarva-nārībhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण/सह (instrumental of accompaniment)

• mahā-utsava-purassaram: preceded by a great festival
• mahā-utsava-purassaram: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + utsava (प्रातिपदिक) + purassara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्/विशेषण (as: having a great festival in front/preceded by)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Himācala
• Menā
• Pārvatī
• Śiva

FAQs

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

It presents dhārmic ācāra (auspicious, orderly conduct) as a sacred support for devotion: the outer celebration mirrors inner joy and reverence as the household prepares to honor Śiva’s divine presence in the narrative.

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

The verse emphasizes welcoming and honoring the Lord through visible, saguna expressions—festive rites and respectful reception—reflecting the Purāṇic principle that devotion often begins with tangible forms of reverence before deeper contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests cultivating śauca and maṅgala-ācāra—cleanliness, orderly preparation, and devotional hospitality; as a personal takeaway, one may prepare a simple pūjā space and recite the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while commencing any auspicious act.