Shloka 9

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

च्रेअतिओन् ओफ़् अ लिङ्ग कृत्वा कनीयसं लिङ्गं स्नाप्य चन्दनवारिणा चैत्रमासादि विप्रेन्द्राः शिवलिङ्गव्रतं चरेत्

Transliteration

creation of a liṅga kṛtvā kanīyasaṃ liṅgaṃ snāpya candanavāriṇā caitramāsādi viprendrāḥ śivaliṅgavrataṃ caret

Translation

Nachdem man einen kleinen Liṅga geformt und diesen Liṅga mit sandelgetränktem Wasser gebadet hat, o Bester der Brahmanen, soll man das Gelübde des Śiva-Liṅga vom Monat Caitra an begehen; durch disziplinierte Verehrung wird der paśu (die gebundene Seele) auf Pati (Śiva) ausgerichtet.

Word by Word

• liṅgam: a (Śiva-)Liṅga

• kṛtvā: having made

• kanīyasam: small, lesser-sized

• liṅgam: the Liṅga

• snāpya: having bathed/abluted

• candana-vāriṇā: with sandal-water (water mixed with sandal paste)

• caitra-māsa-ādi: beginning with the month of Caitra

• vipra-indrāḥ: O best among brahmins

• śiva-liṅga-vratam: the vow/observance centered on the Śiva-Liṅga

• caret: should practice/undertake

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva-Linga

FAQs

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

It prescribes a practical vrata-method: create a small Liṅga and perform abhiṣeka with sandal-water, establishing regular, embodied devotion to Pati (Śiva) through a simple, accessible form of Liṅga-pūjā.

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

By centering the vrata on the Liṅga—Śiva’s aniconic, all-pervading mark—it implies Śiva as Pati, the transcendent yet immanent Lord who becomes approachable through ritual focus without reducing Him to a limited form.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata-based discipline combining pūjā and abhiṣeka (bathing the Liṅga with candana-water), functioning as a devotional sādhanā that purifies the paśu and loosens pāśa through steady observance.