Shloka 12

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

पृथिवीं पादमूलात्तु गुह्यदेशाज्जलं तथा नाभिदेशात् तथा वह्निं हृदयाद्भास्करं तथा

Transliteration

pṛthivīṃ pādamūlāttu guhyadeśājjalaṃ tathā nābhideśāt tathā vahniṃ hṛdayādbhāskaraṃ tathā

Translation

Von den Fußsohlen her soll man das Erdprinzip setzen und betrachten; aus der geheimen Region das Wasserprinzip; aus der Nabelregion das Feuerprinzip; und aus dem Herzen den Sonnen-Glanz—so werden die elementaren Kräfte im Leib für die Verehrung Śivas geordnet.

Word by Word

• pṛthivīm: earth-element (pṛthivī-tattva)

• pādamūlāt: from the root/soles of the feet

• tu: indeed

• guhyadeśāt: from the hidden/secret region (genital area)

• jalam: water-element

• tathā: likewise/also

• nābhideśāt: from the navel region

• vahnim: fire-element (agni)

• hṛdayāt: from the heart

• bhāskaram: the Sun, solar radiance (sūrya-tejas)

• tathā: thus/in that manner

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches inner preparation (bhūta-nyāsa): aligning the body’s elemental centers so the worshipper’s deha becomes a fit altar for the Linga, turning external puja into inward Shaiva sadhana.

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

By mapping elements and radiance within the body, it implies Shiva as Pati who pervades and orders the tattvas; when the pashu (soul) harmonizes these, pasha (bondage of impurity and dispersion) loosens through disciplined awareness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhūta-nyāsa (elemental placement) as part of Shaiva upasana/Pashupata-oriented yogic purification—placing earth, water, fire, and solar tejas in their bodily loci before mantra-japa and Linga-puja.