Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 65

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

एवं चतुर्थावरणं पूजयित्वा विधानतः । आयुधानि महेशस्य पश्चाद्बांह्यं समर्चयेत्

Transliteration

evaṃ caturthāvaraṇaṃ pūjayitvā vidhānataḥ | āyudhāni maheśasya paścādbāṃhyaṃ samarcayet

Translation

如是，依仪轨礼拜第四重围坛（āvaraṇa）之后，继而当恭敬供奉大自在天摩诃伊湿（Maheśa）之诸神兵法器，并按次第礼敬其外层环绕之诸相。

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• caturtha-āvaraṇam: the fourth enclosure
• caturtha-āvaraṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturtha + āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: caturtham āvaraṇam (the fourth enclosure)

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped
• pūjayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; absolutive/gerund (ktvā), ‘having worshipped’

• vidhānataḥ: according to the prescribed method
• vidhānataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; tasil-anta adverb (तसिल्) from noun: ‘according to rule’

• āyudhāni: weapons
• āyudhāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• maheśasya: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• maheśasya: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of sequence/time

• bāhyam: the outer (one)
• bāhyam: Karma (Object-complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; used adjectivally qualifying implied ‘āvaraṇam/maṇḍalam’ = outer (enclosure)

• samarcayet: should worship
• samarcayet: Kriyā (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Śiva should be structured and complete—worship progresses through prescribed “enclosures” and then extends to Śiva’s divine powers (āyudhas), expressing total surrender to Pati, the liberator of bound souls (paśu).

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

Āvaraṇa-pūjā is a Saguna mode of worship where the Liṅga is honored along with its attendant circles and manifestations; worshipping Śiva’s āyudhas affirms that the Liṅga is not merely a symbol but the living Lord with active śakti and governance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform sequential āvaraṇa-pūjā as per vidhi, then offer reverence to Śiva’s āyudhas (with mantra and upacāras); mentally, contemplate that all protective and transformative powers belong to Maheśa while repeating Śiva-mantra (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī).