Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

सर्वपाप विनिर्मुक्तः सद्यः शिवपदं लभेत् । अथवा सप्तरात्रं वा वसेद्वा पंचरात्रकम्

Transliteration

sarvapāpa vinirmuktaḥ sadyaḥ śivapadaṃ labhet | athavā saptarātraṃ vā vasedvā paṃcarātrakam

Translation

Von allen Sünden befreit, erlangt man sogleich den Zustand Śivas. Oder man soll dort sieben Nächte verweilen—oder wenigstens fünf Nächte.

Word by Word

• सर्व-पाप: from all sins (implied)
• सर्व-पाप: Apadana (अपादान; implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे समास-पूर्वपद; अत्र ‘सर्वपाप(ात्)’ इत्यर्थे विनिर्मुक्तः इत्यनेन सम्बन्धः (elliptic ablative sense)

• विनिर्मुक्तः: freed, released
• विनिर्मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + निर् + √मुच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (immediately)

• शिव-पदम्: Śiva’s state/abode
• शिव-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—शिवपदम् (शिवस्य पदम्/स्थानम्)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ + वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or else)

• सप्त-रात्रम्: seven nights
• सप्त-रात्रम्: Karma (कर्म; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—सप्तरात्रम् (seven nights/for seven nights)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय

• वसेत्: should dwell/stay
• वसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय

• पञ्च-रात्रकम्: five nights (observance)
• पञ्च-रात्रकम्: Karma (कर्म; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—पञ्चरात्रकम् (five-night observance)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the merit of sacred residence and Śiva-worship to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The kṣetra is portrayed as granting rapid purification and śivapada; residence (vāsa) for a fixed number of nights is taught as a means to receive the kṣetra’s grace.

Significance: Kṣetra-vāsa (staying in the holy precinct) is extolled as a purifier leading to śivapada; even limited residence (5–7 nights) is said to confer strong merit and spiritual uplift.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere Śiva-oriented life—especially in a highly sanctified Śaiva kṣetra—burns accumulated pāpa and can culminate in Śiva-pada (liberation), emphasizing grace and purification central to Śaiva devotion.

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

The promise of ‘Śiva-pada’ is linked to approaching Śiva through accessible forms—such as Liṅga-worship and kṣetra-sevā—where Saguna worship becomes a doorway to the highest Śiva-state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is a vow of sacred residence for five or seven nights with daily Śiva-pūjā—ideally including japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and observances like night vigil where appropriate.