Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 66

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

ततश्चंदनपुष्पादि रोपणीयं शिवोपरि । दापयेत्प्रणवेनैव मुखवासादिकं तथा

Transliteration

tataścaṃdanapuṣpādi ropaṇīyaṃ śivopari | dāpayetpraṇavenaiva mukhavāsādikaṃ tathā

Translation

ثم بعد ذلك تُقدَّم عجينةُ الصندل والزهورُ وما شابه فوق شيفا؛ ومع التلفّظ بالبرَنَفَة «أوم» وحدها، تُقدَّم كذلك عطورُ الفم وما يتصل بها من قرابين.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-शब्दः, अपादान/क्रमसूचक-अव्यय (thereafter)

• चन्दनपुष्पादि: sandalwood, flowers, etc.
• चन्दनपुष्पादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन + पुष्प + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—चन्दनं च पुष्पं च (द्वन्द्व) + आदि (समाहार)

• रोपणीयम्: should be placed/applied
• रोपणीयम्: Vidhi/Prayojya (विधेय/प्रयोज्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुप्/रोप् (धातु) → रोपणीय (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—रोपणीय (gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (to be placed/applied)

• शिवे: on Shiva
• शिवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• उपरि: upon
• उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (preposition/adverb)

• दापयेत्: one should cause (it) to be given/offer
• दापयेत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) (causative) दापय (णिच्)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष? actually 3rd person singular, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• मुखवासादिकम्: mouth-perfume/fragrance etc.
• मुखवासादिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुखवास + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—मुखस्य वासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + आदि

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तथार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating Śiva-pūjā injunctions to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights upacāra-pūjā after abhiṣeka—gandha, puṣpa, and fragrant offerings—supporting steadiness of devotion and sanctification of senses.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that loving, tangible offerings (sandal, flowers, fragrance) become sanctifying when united with mantra—especially the Praṇava—directing the devotee’s mind and senses toward Śiva as Pati (the Lord) and bestower of grace.

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

The instruction ‘upon Śiva’ is followed in practice as offering to the Śiva-liṅga or Śiva’s mūrti—Saguna worship that steadies devotion, while the Praṇava points to Śiva’s transcendent reality beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-pūjā by placing sandalpaste and flowers, then offer aromatics while chanting Oṁ (Praṇava) with one-pointed attention—treating the act as mantra-guided upacāra (formal service) to Śiva.