Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera

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Devanagari script

वर्धन्यां पिंडिकालिंगं विद्येशकलशैः पुनः । अभिषिच्यासनं पश्चादाधाराद्यं प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

vardhanyāṃ piṃḍikāliṃgaṃ vidyeśakalaśaiḥ punaḥ | abhiṣicyāsanaṃ paścādādhārādyaṃ prakalpayet

Translation

Nachdem man den Liṅga zusammen mit seiner piṇḍikā (Sockel) in das Weihegefäß gesetzt hat, soll man ihn erneut mit den heiligen Wasserkrügen (kalasa), die Vidyeśvara geweiht sind, abhisheka-weise baden. Danach richte man den āsana (Sitz) her und bereite sodann die Stützen, beginnend mit dem ādhāra (Grundlager), ordnungsgemäß vor.

Word by Word

• वर्धन्याम्: in the vardhanī (sprinkling vessel)
• वर्धन्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vardhanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (in the vardhanī vessel)

• पिण्डिका-लिङ्गम्: the piṇḍikā-liṅga (liṅga with pedestal)
• पिण्डिका-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍikā (प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पिण्डिकायाः लिङ्गम्)

• विद्येश-कलशैः: with the Vidyeśa-pots (ritual vessels)
• विद्येश-कलशैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyeśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kalaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विद्येशानां कलशाः)

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/क्रमवाचक (again; further)

• अभिषिच्य: having anointed; having sprinkled
• अभिषिच्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having anointed/sprinkled’

• आसनम्: the seat; pedestal arrangement
• आसनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (afterwards)

• आधार-आद्यम्: beginning with the support (ādhāra) etc.
• आधार-आद्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आधारः आदिः यस्य/आधारादि)

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange; should prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√klṛp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vidyeshvara

FAQs

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

It presents the disciplined outer sequence of consecration—abhisheka, then establishing āsana and ādhāra—showing that devotion to Shiva (Pati) is strengthened when worship is performed with purity, order, and reverence, transforming ritual action into a means of inner purification and grace.

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

The Liṅga with its piṇḍikā is treated as the tangible (saguṇa) support through which the devotee approaches the transcendent Shiva; bathing it with sanctified kalaśa waters and setting its proper seat and supports expresses honoring Shiva’s immanence while contemplating His supreme nature beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates repeated Lingābhiṣeka using consecrated kalaśas, followed by arranging the āsana and foundational supports; this can be paired with steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a focused meditation on Shiva’s presence in the Liṅga during the bathing.