Shloka 55

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

कृतिकागुरुवारेषु ब्रह्मणो यजनाद्धनैः । मधुस्वर्णाज्यदानेन भोगवृद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्

Transliteration

kṛtikāguruvāreṣu brahmaṇo yajanāddhanaiḥ | madhusvarṇājyadānena bhogavṛddhirbhavennṛṇām

Translation

Wenn Kṛttikā mit einem Donnerstag (Guru-vāra) zusammenfällt, erlangen die Menschen durch das ehrenvolle Beschenken eines Brāhmaṇa mit Reichtum sowie durch die Gabe von Honig, Gold und Ghee eine Zunahme an weltlichen Genüssen und Wohlstand.

Word by Word

• कृतिकागुरुवारेषु: on Kṛttikā (nakṣatra) Thursdays
• कृतिकागुरुवारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतिकाः-गुरु-वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृतिकायां, गुरुवारे=बृहस्पतिवारे)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• यजनात्: from worship/sacrifice
• यजनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ

• धनैः: with wealth
• धनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मधुस्वर्णाज्यदानेन: by the donation of honey, gold, and ghee
• मधुस्वर्णाज्यदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु-स्वर्ण-आज्य-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (मधु च स्वर्णं च आज्यं च—तेषां दानम्)

• भोगवृद्धिः: increase of enjoyment/prosperity
• भोगवृद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग-वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भोगस्य वृद्धिः)

• भवेत्: may occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it prescribes honoring a brāhmaṇa and specific dānas on Kṛttikā + Thursday for prosperity.

Significance: Merit through guru-vāra (Thursday) aligned giving; promises bhoga-vṛddhi (increase of lawful enjoyments).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined charity and reverent honouring of the worthy (especially Brāhmaṇas) purify the devotee’s conduct and generate punya, which supports steady bhakti to Shiva; the stated fruit here is increased bhoga (prosperity), a secondary benefit that can be redirected toward dharma.

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

In Shaiva practice, outer worship of Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship) is strengthened by dāna and service; such acts reduce selfish grasping (a form of pasha) and make the mind fit for mantra-japa and temple/linga upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform charity on an auspicious day (Kṛttikā with Thursday), honour a Brāhmaṇa with appropriate gifts, and pair it with Shiva-upāsanā—such as Panchāksharī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple offerings—so the merit supports devotion and discipline.