Shloka 3

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

Uma–Maheshvara Vrata, Shula-dana, and Month-wise Ekabhakta Vrata

Devanagari script

उमामहेशप्रतिमां हेम्ना कृत्वा सुशोभनाम् राजतीं वाथ वर्षान्ते प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथाविधि

Transliteration

umāmaheśapratimāṃ hemnā kṛtvā suśobhanām rājatīṃ vātha varṣānte pratiṣṭhāpya yathāvidhi

Translation

উমা-মহেশ্বরের অতিশয় শোভাময় প্রতিমা স্বর্ণে—অথবা রৌপ্যে—নির্মাণ করে, বছরের শেষে বিধিমতে প্রতিষ্ঠা করবে।

Word by Word

• उमा (Umā): Goddess Umā/Śakti

• महेश (Maheśa): Lord Śiva, the Great Lord

• प्रतिमाम् (pratimām): image, icon

• हेम्ना (hemnā): with gold, in gold

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having made, having fashioned

• सुशोभनाम् (suśobhanām): very beautiful, splendid

• राजतीम् (rājatīm): made of silver / shining

• वा (vā): or

• अथ (atha): then, moreover

• वर्षान्ते (varṣānte): at the end of the year

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य (pratiṣṭhāpya): having installed, consecrating

• यथाविधि (yathāvidhi): according to rule, as enjoined by ritual injunction.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed ritual tradition to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Uma (Parvati)

FAQs

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

It affirms that alongside linga-pūjā, the Linga Purana authorizes consecrated worship of Umā-Maheśvara icons; installing them by yathāvidhi aligns the devotee (pashu) with dharmic order and invites Pati’s anugraha (grace).

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

By prescribing worship of Umā with Maheśvara, it points to Śiva-tattva as inseparable from Śakti—Pati is not approached as isolated divinity but as the Lord whose power (śakti) manifests and completes his salvific presence for the bound soul.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Murti-pratiṣṭhā (ritual installation/consecration) at a calendrically significant time (year’s end), emphasizing disciplined observance—an outer support that complements Pāśupata-oriented purification and steadiness in worship.