Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन परत्रेह च शर्मणे । स्थापयेत्परमेशस्य लिंगं बेरमथापि वा

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaprayatnena paratreha ca śarmaṇe | sthāpayetparameśasya liṃgaṃ beramathāpi vā

Translation

Darum soll man mit aller Anstrengung—zum Heil in dieser Welt und im Jenseits—für den Höchsten Herrn (Parameśvara) entweder einen Śiva-Liṅga oder auch ein heiliges Bild (bera) errichten.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Anvaya (हेतु/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially (तस्मात्) = 'therefore/from that'

• sarva-prayatnena: with all effort
• sarva-prayatnena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: sarvaḥ prayatnaḥ = 'all effort' (sense: 'with every effort')

• paratra: hereafter
• paratra: Deśa/Kāla (देश/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paratra (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (देश/काल) = 'in the other world/hereafter'

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (देशवाचक)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• śarmaṇe: for welfare/peace
• śarmaṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose/benefit

• sthāpayet: should स्थापित/establish
• sthāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + ṇic (causative)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; causative sense 'should cause to be established'

• parameśasya: of the Supreme Lord
• parameśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• beram: an idol/image
• beram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'image/idol' (contextual)

• atha: or else
• atha: Anvaya (अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अनन्तर/विकल्प) = 'or else/then'

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A prescriptive injunction: for welfare (śarma) here and hereafter, one should establish either a liṅga (aniconic) or a bera/mūrti (iconic). This aligns with Āgamic duality of liṅga and bera worship as valid supports for devotion and grace.

Significance: Frames pratiṣṭhā as a meritorious act (dharma) that benefits both worldly well-being and post-mortem good, culminating in Śiva’s grace toward liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Parameshvara)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that consciously establishing Śiva’s presence through consecrated worship (Liṅga or icon) is a direct means to attain śarma—inner peace and auspicious welfare—both in worldly life and after death, aligning the devotee (paśu) toward the Supreme Lord (Pati).

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

It explicitly validates both modes: the Liṅga (often linked with the transcendent, nirguṇa-oriented symbol) and the bera/mūrti (saguṇa form accessible to devotion). Shaiva practice accepts both as legitimate supports for bhakti, purity of mind, and steady meditation on Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to install and regularly worship a consecrated Śiva-liṅga or Śiva icon with daily pūjā—typically supported by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with traditional Shaiva observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.