Shloka 16

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 74 — ब्रह्मप्रोक्तलिङ्गार्चनविधिः

Materials, Classes, and Fruits of Linga-Worship

Devanagari script

मृन्मयं पञ्चमं लिङ्गं द्विधा भिन्नं द्विजोत्तमाः षष्ठं तु क्षणिकं लिङ्गं सप्तधा परिकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

mṛnmayaṃ pañcamaṃ liṅgaṃ dvidhā bhinnaṃ dvijottamāḥ ṣaṣṭhaṃ tu kṣaṇikaṃ liṅgaṃ saptadhā parikīrtitam

Translation

O Bester der Zweimalgeborenen, der fünfte ist der aus Ton (Lehm) bestehende Liṅga, als in zwei verschiedene Arten geteilt beschrieben. Der sechste ist der vergängliche (zeitweilige) Liṅga, der als siebenfach verkündet wird.

Word by Word

• मृन्मयम् (mṛnmayam): made of clay/earth

• पञ्चमम् (pañcamam): the fifth

• लिङ्गम् (liṅgam): Liṅga, emblem of Pati (Śiva)

• द्विधा (dvidhā): in two ways/twofold

• भिन्नम् (bhinnam): divided, differentiated

• द्विजोत्तमाः (dvijottamāḥ): O best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)

• षष्ठम् (ṣaṣṭham): the sixth

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• क्षणिकम् (kṣaṇikam): momentary, temporary

• लिङ्गम् (liṅgam): Liṅga

• सप्तधा (saptadhā): sevenfold

• परिकीर्तितम् (parikīrtitam): declared, taught

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It formalizes a taxonomy of worship-worthy Liṅgas—specifically clay (mṛnmaya) and temporary (kṣaṇika)—showing that even non-permanent forms can be valid supports for devotion to Pati when installed and worshiped according to vidhi.

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

By allowing Śiva’s worship through both durable and momentary Liṅgas, it implies that Śiva-tattva is not confined to matter: the Liṅga is a pratīka (support) through which the bound soul (paśu) approaches the Lord (Pati) and loosens bondage (pāśa) via disciplined worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to Liṅga-pūjā in prescribed forms—especially clay and temporary installations—supporting regular sādhana where external worship (bahir-arcana) complements inner Pāśupata orientation toward detachment and purity.