Shloka 78

Shivamurti–Pratishtha Phala: Shivalaya-Nirmana, Kshetra-Mahatmya, Tirtha-Snana, and Mandala-Vidhi

Devanagari script

अग्रतस्तु तमोमूर्तिं मध्ये देवीं तथांबिकाम् पञ्चभूतानि तन्मात्रापञ्चकं चैव दक्षिणे

Transliteration

agratastu tamomūrtiṃ madhye devīṃ tathāṃbikām pañcabhūtāni tanmātrāpañcakaṃ caiva dakṣiṇe

Translation

في المقدّمة تُوضَع المظاهر ذات هيئة التَّمَس (Tamas)؛ وفي الوسط تُقام الإلهة أمبيكا (Ambikā) نفسها. وعلى اليمين تُرتَّب العناصر العظمى الخمسة (pañca-bhūta) وكذلك خماسيّ التَّنْماترا (tanmātras) اللطيفة.

Word by Word

• agratastu: in front indeed

• tamo-mūrtim: the form constituted of tamas (the tamasic manifestation)

• madhye: in the middle

• devīm: the Goddess

• tathā: likewise/indeed

• ambikām: Ambikā (the Mother, Śakti)

• pañca-bhūtāni: the five great elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether)

• tanmātrā-pañcakam: the pentad of subtle elements (sound, touch, form, taste, smell)

• ca eva: and also

• dakṣiṇe: on the right side

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, describing a ritual/yantric arrangement connected to Shiva-Shakti worship)

Characters & Entities

• Ambika
• Devi
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It gives a precise ritual-symbolic layout: Śakti (Ambikā) is centered, while the cosmic principles (bhūtas and tanmātras) are placed in ordered directions—showing that Linga worship integrates creation-tattvas into a Śiva-centered, Śakti-empowered rite.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By situating Ambikā at the center and arranging tamas and the elemental principles around, the verse implies Śiva-tattva as Pati (the transcendent Lord) who is worshipped through an ordered manifestation of śakti and tattvas—where bondage (pāśa) arises from guṇas/tattvas and is ritually purified by right knowledge and worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A tattva-based upāsanā/nyāsa-style arrangement used in Śaiva ritual: positioning guṇa-forms and the bhūta–tanmātra sets around the central Devī supports tattva-śuddhi (purification of principles) as a preparatory discipline aligned with Pāśupata-oriented worship.