Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

स्थापयेद्विधिना रुद्रं गंधचंदनवारिणा । पञ्चागव्यविधानेन गृह्यपात्रेऽभिमंत्र्य च

Transliteration

sthāpayedvidhinā rudraṃ gaṃdhacaṃdanavāriṇā | pañcāgavyavidhānena gṛhyapātre'bhimaṃtrya ca

Translation

Man soll Rudra (Rudra) nach der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung einsetzen (anrufen und fest begründen), mit wohlriechendem Wasser und mit Sandelwasser. Nachdem das Pañcagavya bereitet ist, soll man es zudem in einem geeigneten Ritualgefäß mit Mantra weihen.

Word by Word

• स्थापयेत्: should establish
• स्थापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; विध्यर्थ

• विधिना: by the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• रुद्रम्: Rudra (Śiva)
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गन्ध: fragrance, perfume
• गन्ध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• चन्दन: sandalwood
• चन्दन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• वारिणा: with water (mixed with perfume and sandal)
• वारिणा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (गन्ध + चन्दन + वारि) समाहारद्वन्द्वः

• पञ्चागव्य: the five products of the cow (pañcagavya)
• पञ्चागव्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च गव्यानि)

• विधानेन: by the procedure/arrangement (of pañcagavya)
• विधानेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चागव्यस्य विधानम्)

• गृह्य: ritual (gṛhya)
• गृह्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (पात्रे)

• पात्रे: in a ritual vessel
• पात्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (गृह्यं पात्रम्)

• अभिमन्त्र्य: having consecrated/recited mantras over
• अभिमन्त्र्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishing Rudra through vidhi and mantra-consecrated purificatory media is framed as a means to make the Lord ‘present’ for worship, enabling grace (anugraha) through correct ritual approach (ācāra-śuddhi).

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Rudra should be joined with inner and outer purity—fragrant water, pañcagavya, and mantra-consecration symbolize cleansing the limited self (paśu) and approaching Pati (Śiva) with sanctified intention.

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

The verse describes a practical step of saguna worship: installing Rudra for pūjā and using sanctified substances. In Śaiva practice, the Linga becomes the focal support for contemplation and offering, making the formless accessible through a consecrated form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare pañcagavya, place it in a proper vessel, and empower it with mantra (abhimantrana) before use; then perform Rudra-sthāpana and worship with sandal-scented water—ideally alongside japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).