Shloka 49

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

वेदपारायणं चैव ज्ञेयं शिवपदप्रदम् । अन्यान्बहुतरान्मंत्राञ्जपेदक्षरलक्षतः

Transliteration

vedapārāyaṇaṃ caiva jñeyaṃ śivapadapradam | anyānbahutarānmaṃtrāñjapedakṣaralakṣataḥ

Translation

Die Rezitation der Veden ist als Spenderin des Śivapada, des Zustands Śivas, zu erkennen. Ebenso soll man viele andere Mantras wiederholen und Japa im Maß von hunderttausend Silben vollziehen.

Word by Word

• veda-pārāyaṇam: recitation of the Veda
• veda-pārāyaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + pārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• jñeyam: is to be known
• jñeyam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: Gerundive/तव्यत् (भाव्य), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śiva-pada-pradam: granting the state/abode of Śiva
• śiva-pada-pradam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective qualifying 'veda-pārāyaṇam'

• anyān: other
• anyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying 'mantrān'

• bahutarān: more numerous
• bahutarān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahutara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); comparative adjective qualifying 'mantrān'

• mantrān: mantras
• mantrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• japet: should repeat/chant
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• akṣara-lakṣataḥ: by (counting) a lakh of syllables
• akṣara-lakṣataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्)
• Form: Tasil-anta adverb (तसिलन्त अव्यय) meaning 'by/according to'; compound used adverbially

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā setting, the teaching is framed around Kāśī/Viśveśvara as the paradigmatic Śiva-kṣetra where śravaṇa–kīrtana–japa and Vedic recitation are said to culminate in Śivapada through Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Veda-pārāyaṇa and mantra-japa performed with Śiva-bhakti are presented as direct means that mature into Śivapada (liberation/Śiva-state), emphasizing grace (anugraha) over mere ritualism.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred sound—especially Vedic recitation and disciplined mantra-japa—purifies the soul (paśu) and becomes a means to attain Śiva’s state (Śivapada), i.e., liberation through Śiva’s grace.

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

In Śaiva practice, mantra and Vedic chanting are primary offerings to Saguna Śiva (often in Linga worship). The verse validates recitation as a direct form of upacāra (service) that supports concentration and devotion during Pūjā and Abhiṣeka.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends regular Veda-pārāyaṇa and mantra-japa with a firm count—up to akṣara-lakṣa (100,000 syllables)—a common discipline used with pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and other Śaiva mantras.