Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

मंडलं गोशकृत्तोयैर्मानं पात्रस्य नोदितम् । कुण्डं च मृन्मयं वेदिमालिपेद्गोमयांबुना

Transliteration

maṃḍalaṃ gośakṛttoyairmānaṃ pātrasya noditam | kuṇḍaṃ ca mṛnmayaṃ vedimālipedgomayāṃbunā

Translation

以掺和牛粪之水画定仪式的maṇḍala。pātra（器皿）的尺度此处并未另行规定。并当备置泥制的kuṇḍa，又以牛粪水涂抹vedī（祭坛）。

Word by Word

• मण्डलम्: a circle/diagram (maṇḍala)
• मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गोशकृत्-तोयैः: with water mixed with cow-dung
• गोशकृत्-तोयैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोशकृत् + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः गोशकृतः तोयम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गोशकृत् = गोमय/गोशकृत् ‘cow-dung’); साधनम्

• मानम्: the measure/dimension
• मानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पात्रस्य: of the vessel
• पात्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• उदितम्: is not stated
• उदितम्: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वद्/√उद्?; here ‘said/mentioned’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle): ‘stated/mentioned’

• कुण्डम्: the fire-pit (kuṇḍa)
• कुण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• मृन्मयम्: made of clay
• मृन्मयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृद् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कुण्डम् इत्यस्य); समासः मृदः मयः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• वेदिम्: the altar (vedī)
• वेदिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आलिपेत्: should smear/plaster
• आलिपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √लिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गोमयाम्बुना: with cow-dung water
• गोमयाम्बुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः गोमयेन अम्बु इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (cow-dung water); साधनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śauca (ritual purity) and the sanctification of sacred space before Shiva worship, showing that outer purification supports inner steadiness and devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By prescribing the preparation of the maṇḍala, vedi, and kuṇḍa, it sets the physical and energetic foundation for Saguna Shiva worship—particularly Linga-pūjā and homa—where the devotee approaches Shiva through consecrated forms and rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean worship area: draw the maṇḍala, ready an earthen kuṇḍa, and smear the vedi with gomayāmbu (cow-dung water) as a purificatory act before mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī) and offering rites.