Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

लिंगशुद्धिं ततः कृत्वा मुदा युक्तो नरस्तदा । यथोचितं तु मंत्रौघैः प्रणवादिर्नमोंतकैः

Transliteration

liṃgaśuddhiṃ tataḥ kṛtvā mudā yukto narastadā | yathocitaṃ tu maṃtraughaiḥ praṇavādirnamoṃtakaiḥ

Translation

ثم بعد أن يُنجَز تطهير اللِنْغا، على العابد—وقد امتلأ بفرح التعبّد—أن يقدّم العبادة على الوجه اللائق بسيلٍ من المانترا، يبدأ بالبراناڤا «أوم» وينتهي بـ«نَمَهْ»، كما هو مقرر.

Word by Word

• liṅga-śuddhim: purification of the liṅga
• liṅga-śuddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (लिङ्गस्य शुद्धिः)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Krama-avyaya (then/thereafter)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), pūrva-kāla-kriyā

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mud (प्रातिपदिक: mudā)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; bhāva-karaṇa (instrumental of manner)

• yuktaḥ: endowed/engaged
• yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; predicate adjective of ‘naraḥ’

• naraḥ: the man (worshipper)
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (then/at that time)

• yathā-ucitam: as appropriate
• yathā-ucitam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ucita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √uc)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa (यथोचितम् = as is proper); kriyā-viśeṣaṇa

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Viśeṣa-avyaya (तु/ indeed)

• mantra-oghaiḥ: with a multitude of mantras
• mantra-oghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (मन्त्राणाम् ओघः = multitude of mantras)

• praṇava-ādiḥ: beginning with ‘praṇava’ (Oṃ)
• praṇava-ādiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (प्रणवः आदिः यस्य = beginning with praṇava) used adjectivally (elliptic with ‘mantraughaḥ’)

• namo-ṃtakaiḥ: ending with ‘namaḥ’
• namo-ṃtakaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi (नमोऽन्तकाः = those ending with ‘namaḥ’) qualifying ‘mantraughaiḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ … namaḥ (praṇavādir namoṃtakaḥ)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer ritual purity (liṅga-śuddhi) should be joined with inner devotion (mudā) and disciplined mantra-recitation, aligning the worshipper with Śiva as Pati through reverent, rule-based practice.

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

The Liṅga is approached as Saguna Śiva—Śiva graciously accessible through form—where purification and mantra-offering become a concrete way to concentrate mind and devotion, culminating in salutations (namaḥ) that express surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

After performing liṅga-śuddhi, one should chant mantras in proper sequence—beginning with Oṁ (Praṇava) and concluding with ‘namaḥ’—as a focused japa/arcana practice during Śiva-pūjā.