Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

गिरिराजस्य शिवनिमन्त्रणम् / The Mountain-King Invites Śiva

Hospitality to Śiva and the Devas

Devanagari script

हिमाचलपुरीबाह्योपवने हर्षितास्सुराः । सेश्वरास्सोत्सवास्तस्थुः पर्यैषन्त शिवागमम्

Transliteration

himācalapurībāhyopavane harṣitāssurāḥ | seśvarāssotsavāstasthuḥ paryaiṣanta śivāgamam

Translation

在喜马遮罗城外的林苑中，诸天欢喜，与各自的主宰同在，怀着庆典之心伫立等待，殷切盼望湿婆大自在天的到来。

Word by Word

• हिमाचलपुरीबाह्योपवने: in the outer garden of Himācala’s city
• हिमाचलपुरीबाह्योपवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमाचलपुरी + बाह्य + उपवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘हिमाचलपुर्याः बाह्ये उपवने’ = in the garden outside Himācala-city)

• हर्षिताः: delighted
• हर्षिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्षित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘सुराः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स-ईश्वराः: with their lord
• स-ईश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘ये ईश्वरवन्तः’ = having a lord/with their lord)

• स-उत्सवाः: festive
• स-उत्सवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘उत्सवयुक्ताः’ = festive)

• तस्थुः: stood, remained
• तस्थुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पर्यैषन्त: they sought, searched for
• पर्यैषन्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + एष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शिवागमम्: Śiva’s arrival
• शिवागमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवस्य आगमः’ = Śiva’s arrival)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Waiting in Himācala’s outer grove functions as a liminal ‘threshold’ scene before darśana; it is not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga but to the Himalayan sacred geography associated with Śiva and Umā.

Significance: Teaches tīrtha-darśana etiquette: joyful expectancy, communal celebration, and readiness for Śiva’s arrival—an inner preparation for grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Himācala (Himalaya personified)

FAQs

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

It portrays the devas as ideal devotees: joyful, reverent, and prepared—showing that Śiva’s grace (anugraha) is met through eager receptivity and celebratory bhakti, a key Shaiva Siddhanta mood of approaching Pati (Śiva) with devotion.

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

The verse emphasizes awaiting Śiva’s tangible ‘coming’—a Saguna orientation where the Lord is welcomed as present and approachable. This same devotional stance underlies Liṅga worship: one stands ready, offers upacāras, and receives Śiva’s presence through a consecrated form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt an ‘āgamanāpekṣā’ (reverent waiting) practice: prepare a clean worship space, apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma), repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and mentally welcome Śiva’s presence before beginning pūjā or japa—especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri observance.