Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama

Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple

Devanagari script

ततः सूत्रं शिखाबद्धं लंबयित्वा यथा पुरा । आधारपूजाप्रभृति यन्निवृत्तिकलाश्रयम्

Transliteration

tataḥ sūtraṃ śikhābaddhaṃ laṃbayitvā yathā purā | ādhārapūjāprabhṛti yannivṛttikalāśrayam

Translation

其后，如同先前，应将与顶髻（śikhā）系起的圣线（sūtra）放下垂落。随后，从供奉根基（ādhāra）开始依次而行，当依止“退摄之分”（nivṛtti-kalā）而修其仪轨——此乃令心内转、引导灵魂趋向湿婆的力量之流。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/आनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sūtram: thread/cord
• sūtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śikhā-baddham: tied at the śikhā (topknot)
• śikhā-baddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक) + baddha (√bandh, कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘tied to the topknot’ (शिखायां बद्धम्)

• laṃbayitvā: having let (it) hang down
• laṃbayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √lamb (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), causative sense ‘having caused to hang/let down’ (लम्बयित्वा)

• yathā: as/just as
• yathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/comparative particle (उपमान/प्रकारवाचक)

• purā: formerly/before
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)

• ādhāra-pūjā-prabhṛti: beginning with the ādhāra-worship
• ādhāra-pūjā-prabhṛti: Ārambha-bindu (आरम्भबिन्दु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhṛti (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; meaning ‘starting from the ādhāra-pūjā’ (आधारपूजायाः प्रभृति)

• yat: which/that which
• yat: Viśeṣya/Anvaya (अन्वय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter relative pronoun, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; correlates to an implied तत्

• nivṛtti-kalā-āśrayam: the support of the Nivṛtti-kalā
• nivṛtti-kalā-āśrayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nivṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘having/being the support of the Nivṛtti-kalā’ (निवृत्तिकलायाः आश्रयः)

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 links outer ritual purity (arranging the sacred thread and beginning worship correctly) with inner liberation, emphasizing nivṛtti—turning the mind away from bondage (pāśa) and toward Śiva (Pati).

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

It indicates a step-by-step Linga-pūjā sequence that begins with worship of the ādhāra (base/support), showing that Saguna worship is a disciplined doorway to realizing Śiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Linga worship starting from the base (ādhāra-pūjā) while cultivating nivṛtti—an inward, withdrawing contemplative focus that supports mantra-japa and meditative absorption on Śiva.