Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

लघिमा दक्षिणं चैव महिमा पश्चिमं तथा । प्राप्तिश्चैवोत्तरं पत्रं प्राकाम्यं पावकस्य च

Transliteration

laghimā dakṣiṇaṃ caiva mahimā paścimaṃ tathā | prāptiścaivottaraṃ patraṃ prākāmyaṃ pāvakasya ca

Translation

Laghimā (die Kraft, leicht zu werden) ist im Süden, und Mahimā (die Kraft, ungeheuer weit zu werden) im Westen. Prāpti (die Kraft des Erlangens) ist das nördliche „Blütenblatt“, und Prākāmya (der unfehlbare Wille) gehört zum Feuer-Quadranten; so sind diese Siddhis angeordnet.

Word by Word

• laghimā: laghimā (lightness, a siddhi)
• laghimā: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laghimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग, feminine), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा, nominative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• dakṣiṇam: the southern (direction)
• dakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म) / Dik-viśeṣa (दिक्-विशेष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग, neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (द्वितीया, accusative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); used as direction-name

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) of emphasis/limitation

• mahimā: mahimā (greatness, a siddhi)
• mahimā: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग, feminine), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा, nominative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• paścimam: the western (direction)
• paścimam: Karma (कर्म) / Dik-viśeṣa (दिक्-विशेष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग, neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (द्वितीया, accusative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); used as direction-name

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘likewise’

• prāptiḥ: prāpti (attainment, a siddhi)
• prāptiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग, feminine), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा, nominative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) of emphasis

• uttaram: the northern (direction)
• uttaram: Karma (कर्म) / Dik-viśeṣa (दिक्-विशेष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग, neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (द्वितीया, accusative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); used as direction-name

• patram: petal/leaf
• patram: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग, neuter), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा, nominative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• prākāmyam: prākāmya (irresistible will, a siddhi)
• prākāmyam: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग, neuter), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा, nominative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• pāvakasya: of fire (pāvaka)
• pāvakasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग, masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (षष्ठी, genitive), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni

FAQs

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

It places certain yogic perfections (siddhis) into a sacred directional-lotus scheme, implying that powers arise as by-products of disciplined sādhanā; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such powers are subordinate to Shiva’s grace and the higher aim of liberation (moksha).

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

In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee centers the mind on Shiva as the Lord of all directions and energies; the verse frames siddhis as ordered within Shiva’s cosmic governance, encouraging worship that seeks Shiva Himself rather than mere attainments.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A directional/lotus visualization in meditation (dhyāna) can be inferred, but the practical takeaway is steady mantra-japa (especially Panchakshara) with purity (bhasma/rudraksha where prescribed), treating siddhis as incidental and keeping the intent fixed on Shiva-bhakti and inner restraint.