Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

लिंगादावपि तत्कृत्यमर्चायां च विशेषतः । तत्तन्मूर्त्यात्मभावेन शिवो ऽस्माभिरुपास्यते

Transliteration

liṃgādāvapi tatkṛtyamarcāyāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ | tattanmūrtyātmabhāvena śivo 'smābhirupāsyate

Translation

Selbst bei der Verehrung des Liṅga und anderer heiliger Formen—ganz besonders bei geweihten Bildgestalten (arcā)—verehren wir Śiva, indem wir innerlich die Haltung einnehmen, dass Er wahrhaft als das Selbst jener jeweiligen Form wohnt.

Word by Word

• liṅga-ādau: in the liṅga etc.
• liṅga-ādau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (लिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (आदि, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (Avyayībhāva: 'in liṅga etc.'); पुल्लिङ्ग (ādi masc; compound), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निपात (particle: 'also/even')

• tat-kṛtyam: that prescribed act/duty
• tat-kṛtyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṛtya (कृत्य, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: 'that which is to be done/that duty'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• arcāyām: in worship/archā (iconic worship)
• arcāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcā (अर्चा, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'especially')

• tat-tat-mūrti-ātma-bhāvena: by the nature of each (respective) form-self
• tat-tat-mūrti-ātma-bhāvena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + tat (तद्) + mūrti (मूर्ति) + ātman (आत्मन्) + bhāva (भाव, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'by the state/nature of each such form-self'); पुल्लिङ्ग (bhāva masc), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object; one to be worshipped)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun); तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (plural)

• upāsyate: is worshipped
• upāsyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ās (उप-आस्, धातु)
• Form: तिङन्त (Tinganta), लट्-लकार (present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive voice), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Śiva-worship is not merely external ritual; the devotee should hold the inner conviction (bhāva) that Śiva, the Supreme Lord (Pati), is present as the very reality of the worshipped form, making arcana a direct means toward grace and liberation.

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

The verse affirms Saguna worship: whether one worships the Liṅga or a consecrated image, Śiva is approached through a specific form, while recognizing that His presence is not limited by the form—He indwells it as its inner Self.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While performing Liṅga/arcā pūjā, cultivate mūrti-ātma-bhāva—meditatively regard the Liṅga or image as Śiva Himself; accompany worship with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady this inner recognition.