Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

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

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

दर्भाग्रैः संस्पृशंस्तं च विद्ययात्मानमाविशेत् । नमस्कृत्य महादेवं नाडीसंधानमाचरेत्

Transliteration

darbhāgraiḥ saṃspṛśaṃstaṃ ca vidyayātmānamāviśet | namaskṛtya mahādevaṃ nāḍīsaṃdhānamācaret

Translation

以拘尸草尖触及彼座或圣支，凭灵知之力内入自性；礼敬摩诃提婆，继而修习令诸那迪（微细脉道）相合而安住，以成瑜伽定心。

Word by Word

• darbha-agraiḥ: with the tips of darbha-grass
• darbha-agraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (darbhāṇām agrāṇi)

• saṃspṛśan: touching
• saṃspṛśan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√spṛś (स्पृश् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with implied agent (deśikaḥ)

• tam: him/that (disciple)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• vidyayā: by (mantric) knowledge
• vidyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ātmānam: himself/the self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; reflexive object

• āviśet: should enter/should pervade
• āviśet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaskṛtya: having saluted
• namaskṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas-√kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप् = -ya), indeclinable

• mahā-devam: Mahādeva (the great god)
• mahā-devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय (mahān devaḥ)

• nāḍī-saṃdhānam: joining/aligning of the nāḍīs (channels)
• nāḍī-saṃdhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāḍī (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃdhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nāḍīnāṃ saṃdhānam)

• ācaret: should practice/perform
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purity (kuśa-grass sanctification) must be joined with inner purity (vidyā—turning awareness into the Self) and culminate in devotion to Mahādeva, after which yogic steadiness of the subtle channels supports true concentration and liberation under Śiva’s grace.

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

By instructing one to first bow to Mahādeva, it frames yogic technique as Śiva-centered worship: even when the practice becomes subtle (nāḍī-saṃdhāna), it remains grounded in reverence to Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who guides the aspirant toward the highest realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a preparatory rite using kuśa-grass for sanctification, followed by inward absorption through vidyā and then nāḍī-saṃdhāna—stabilizing the breath and subtle currents (prāṇa) to make meditation steady after offering namaskāra to Śiva.