Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

यज्ञदारुमयौ वापि स्मार्तौ वा शिल्पसम्मतौ । पर्णे वा ब्रह्मवृक्षादेरच्छिद्रे मध्य उत्थिते

Transliteration

yajñadārumayau vāpi smārtau vā śilpasammatau | parṇe vā brahmavṛkṣāderacchidre madhya utthite

Translation

无论以祭祀之木制成，或依《忆念经》(Smṛti)所规定，或合乎神圣工艺之法度；乃至置于梵天圣树等不破之叶上，立于中央——皆应如法安置对湿婆圣相（林伽）的礼拜。

Word by Word

• यज्ञ-दारु-मयौ: made of sacrificial wood
• यज्ञ-दारु-मयौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + दारु (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘यज्ञदारुणा मयौ’); विशेषणम् (स्रुक्-स्रुवौ इत्यनुवृत्त्या)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• स्मार्तौ: prescribed by smṛti/tradition
• स्मार्तौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मार्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (स्रुक्-स्रुवौ)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• शिल्प-सम्मतौ: approved by craftsmanship/śilpa
• शिल्प-सम्मतौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्मत (कृदन्त; सम्-√मन्/√मन् ‘approved’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘शिल्पेन सम्मतौ’); विशेषणम्

• पर्णे: on a leaf
• पर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थानार्थे ‘on/in a leaf’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• ब्रह्म-वृक्ष-आदेः: of/from (a tree) such as the brahma-tree
• ब्रह्म-वृक्ष-आदेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मवृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; समास) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-एकवचनरूप (आदेः); अर्थतः षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) ‘of/from (trees) such as the brahma-tree’; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मस्य वृक्षः)

• अच्छिद्रे: unpierced/without holes
• अच्छिद्रे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पर्णे) ‘unperforated’

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/postposition) — स्थानार्थे ‘in the middle’ (सप्तमी-अर्थे)

• उत्थिते: situated/raised
• उत्थिते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-√स्था (धातु) → उत्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पर्णे/मध्ये) ‘situated/raised’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s worship is not restricted to a single material form: what matters is purity, scriptural propriety, and devotion—outer forms support the inner turning of the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

The verse lists acceptable bases and materials for setting up the Linga—wood used in yajña, Smṛti-approved forms, śilpa-approved icons, or even a clean, unbroken sacred leaf—affirming Saguna worship as a valid, regulated doorway to realizing Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies careful preparation of the worship-support (Linga/altar), choosing a pure and scripturally acceptable medium; this is typically paired with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused dhyāna while establishing the center of worship.