Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

प्रथमं मृच्छिलादिभ्यो लिगं लोहादिभिः कृतम् । येन लिंगं तेन पीठं स्थावरे हि विशिष्यते

Transliteration

prathamaṃ mṛcchilādibhyo ligaṃ lohādibhiḥ kṛtam | yena liṃgaṃ tena pīṭhaṃ sthāvare hi viśiṣyate

Translation

Zunächst wird die Liṅga aus Ton, Stein und dergleichen geformt oder aus Metallen und ähnlichen Stoffen gefertigt. Aus welchem Material die Liṅga auch besteht, der Sockel (pīṭha/yoni) soll aus eben demselben Material gemacht werden; dies gilt als besonders angemessen für eine feste Installation.

Word by Word

• प्रथमम्: firstly
• प्रथमम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative: firstly)

• मृत्-शिलादिभ्यः: from clay, stone, etc.
• मृत्-शिलादिभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत् + शिला + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (मृत्/शिला), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन; ‘मृत्-शिलाः आदयः येषां तेभ्यः’ (from clay, stone, etc.) अपादान

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• लोहादिभिः: with metals etc.
• लोहादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘लोहानि आदीनि’ (metals etc.) करण

• कृतम्: made
• कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; लिङ्गम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध/हेतु-निर्देश (by which/with which)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘तस्मात् कारणात्/तेन प्रकारेण’

• पीठम्: the pedestal/base
• पीठम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• स्थावरे: in the immovable (case)
• स्थावरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle)

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/excels
• विशिष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-worship instructions to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General material prescriptions for liṅga and pīṭha: clay/stone/metal etc., and the rule that the pīṭha should match the liṅga’s material in sthāvara installations.

Significance: Emphasizes ritual integrity (yathā-dravya) in fixed shrines, supporting continuity of worship and the accrual of merit through correct observance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion must be expressed with order and integrity: the Liṅga and its supporting pīṭha should be harmonized, reflecting wholeness in worship of Pati (Śiva) and steadiness in a fixed shrine.

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

The verse gives a concrete rule for saguna-upāsanā: when Śiva is worshiped as the consecrated Liṅga, the physical form and its base are to be prepared correctly, supporting stable daily pūjā and temple worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to ensure proper consecration standards for a sthāvara Liṅga—matching the pīṭha material to the Liṅga—then perform regular pūjā with mantra (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī) and purity of offerings.