Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

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

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

उपवेश्य यथापूर्वं तं गुरुर्दर्भविष्टरे । संपूज्य मंडलं देवं करन्यासं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

upaveśya yathāpūrvaṃ taṃ gururdarbhaviṣṭare | saṃpūjya maṃḍalaṃ devaṃ karanyāsaṃ samācaret

Translation

如前令其就座后，师尊端坐于达尔婆草座，依法礼敬主之神圣曼荼罗，继而行手印安置（kara-nyāsa）——将真言之力安置于双手——使对湿婆的礼拜以正法与净觉而进行。

Word by Word

• upaveśya: having seated
• upaveśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Causative sense gerund (णिच् implied) / absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्) in usage: ‘having seated (someone)’; from upa-√viś ‘to seat/place near’

• yathā-pūrvam: as previously
• yathā-pūrvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially; indeclinable meaning ‘as before’

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

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

• darbha-viṣṭare: on a darbha-seat
• darbha-viṣṭare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṭara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): darbhānāṃ viṣṭaraḥ

• saṃpūjya: having worshipped
• saṃpūjya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from saṃ-√pūj ‘to worship duly’

• maṇḍalam: the maṇḍala
• maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kara-nyāsam: hand-nyāsa (ritual placement)
• kara-nyāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘nyāsa of the hands’

• samācaret: should perform
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied for kara-nyāsa) oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva-worship is not merely external: the Guru establishes right order—seat, maṇḍala, and nyāsa—so the devotee’s body and intention become fit instruments for mantra and grace (anugraha), aligning the pashu (bound soul) toward Pati (Śiva).

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

The maṇḍala is a saguna support for concentration, just like the Liṅga; worshipping it and then doing kara-nyāsa prepares the hands for proper offerings to Śiva, ensuring the ritual acts are performed as consecrated service rather than ordinary action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It specifically prescribes kara-nyāsa (mantra-imposition on the hands) after worship of the maṇḍala—an internalization practice that sanctifies touch and action before continuing Śiva-pūjā (often alongside japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’).