Shloka 6

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

संशोध्य गंधचूर्णेन पेषयित्वा सुमंडपे । हस्तेन प्रतिमां कुर्यात्क्षीरेण च सुसंस्कृताम्

Transliteration

saṃśodhya gaṃdhacūrṇena peṣayitvā sumaṃḍape | hastena pratimāṃ kuryātkṣīreṇa ca susaṃskṛtām

Translation

Nachdem man es mit duftenden Pulvern gereinigt und in einem schönen Maṇḍapa gründlich zerrieben hat, soll man mit der Hand das heilige Bild formen und es, wohlbereitet, mit Milch veredeln.

Word by Word

• संशोध्य: having purified
• संशोध्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Absolutive; action prior to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-शुध्/शोध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (absolutive/gerund)

• गन्ध-चूर्णेन: with fragrant powder
• गन्ध-चूर्णेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: गन्धस्य चूर्णम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• पेषयित्वा: having ground/kneaded
• पेषयित्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पिष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (absolutive/gerund)

• सु-मण्डपे: in a fine pavilion
• सु-मण्डपे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सुन्दरः मण्डपः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• हस्तेन: with the hand
• हस्तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• प्रतिमाम्: an image/idol
• प्रतिमाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• क्षीरेण: with milk
• क्षीरेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• सु-संस्कृताम्: well-prepared/refined
• सु-संस्कृताम्: विशेषण (Adjective of प्रतिमाम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सम्-स्कृ (धातु) → संस्कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु + संस्कृता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रतिमाम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva-pūjā procedure to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General instruction for pratimā-nirmāṇa (icon-making) as part of Śiva-pūjā; not tied to a single Jyotirliṅga legend.

Significance: Highlights saṃskāra (refinement) of materials and mind: purification, grinding, and milk-processing as outer correlates of inner śuddhi before approaching Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that external purity and careful preparation are supports for inner purity; a well-prepared icon becomes a fit focus for devotion (bhakti) toward Saguna Śiva, helping the mind steady itself for grace.

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

Although Śiva is ultimately Nirguṇa, the Purāṇa affirms worship through a tangible form (pratimā/liṅga) for devotees; preparing the form with purity (fragrance, milk, proper processing) aligns the worshipper with ritual propriety and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests pūjā-preparation: purifying materials with fragrant powders, grinding and refining them, and crafting the worship-form in an auspicious maṇḍapa—an outer discipline that supports focused japa and contemplation during Śiva-worship.