Shloka 8

Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi

Condensed Ritual Sequence

Devanagari script

गायत्र्या देवमभ्यर्च्य प्राजापत्यमवाप्नुयात् ब्राह्मं हि प्रणवेनैव वैष्णवं चाभिनन्द्य च

Transliteration

gāyatryā devamabhyarcya prājāpatyamavāpnuyāt brāhmaṃ hi praṇavenaiva vaiṣṇavaṃ cābhinandya ca

Translation

من عبدَ الإلهَ بمانترا الغاياتري نالَ حالةَ براجابتي؛ حقًّا، وبالبرانافا (أوم) وحدها تُنالُ حالةُ براهما، وبالثناءِ الموقّر تُنالُ أيضًا الحالةُ الفايشنفية.

Word by Word

• गायत्र्या (gāyatryā): by/with the Gāyatrī-mantra

• देवम् (devam): the Deity, the divine Lord

• अभ्यर्च्य (abhyarcya): having worshipped, having duly adored

• प्राजापत्यम् (prājāpatyam): the status/power of Prajāpati (progenitive cosmic lordship)

• अवाप्नुयात् (avāpnuyāt): one may attain/obtain

• ब्राह्मम् (brāhmaṃ): the Brahmā-state, brahmic status

• हि (hi): indeed

• प्रणवेन (praṇavena): by the Pranava, Oṁ

• एव (eva): alone, indeed

• वैष्णवम् (vaiṣṇavaṃ): the Vaiṣṇava-state, Vishnu-related status

• च (ca): and

• अभिनन्द्य (abhinandya): having praised, having greeted with reverence

• च (ca): also.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Gayatri
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It frames mantra as a primary limb of worship: specific Vedic mantras (Gāyatrī, Oṁ) and reverent invocation yield distinct spiritual attainments, which in Shaiva practice are ultimately subordinated to realizing Pati (Śiva) as the source beyond all derived states.

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

By listing attainments linked to Prajāpati, Brahmā, and Viṣṇu through mantra and praise, it implies a graded cosmos of powers; Shaiva Siddhānta reads Śiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati who grants and surpasses these offices, freeing the pashu from pasha through right worship and knowledge.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-yukta archana (worship empowered by mantra): using Gāyatrī for devārcana, japa/recitation of Pranava (Oṁ), and abhinandana (reverent praise)—a bridge from outer pūjā to inner discipline aligned with Pāśupata-oriented purification.