Adhyaya 53

Verse 1

अः स्कन्दगणा दश विनायका इति ख, चिहिनितपुस्तकपाठः अत्र चण्डिकादशहस्तेषु खड्गशूलारिशक्तिधृगिति युक्तः पाठः अस्मल्लब्धपुस्तकपञ्चकेषु नायं पाठः अथ त्रिपञ्चाशत्तमोध्यायः लिङ्गलक्षणं भगवानुवाच लिङ्गादिलक्षणं वक्ष्ये कमलोद्भव तच्छृणु दैर्घ्यार्धं वसुभिर्भक्त्वा त्यक्त्वा भागत्रयं ततः

“[Variant reading note:] ‘The hosts of Skanda are ten Vināyakas’—so reads the marked manuscript (kha). Here, in the description of Caṇḍikā’s ten hands, the appropriate reading is ‘bearing sword, spear, the enemy-destroying śakti (javelin), etc.’ This reading is not found in the five manuscripts available to us. Now begins the Fifty-third Chapter: the characteristics of the Liṅga. The Blessed Lord said: ‘O Lotus-born (Brahmā), I shall declare the defining characteristics of the Liṅga and related forms—listen to that. Divide half of the length into eight parts; then discard three parts from it.’”

Verse 2

विष्कम्भं भूतभागैस्तु चतुरस्रन्तु कारयेत् आयामं मूर्तिभिर्भक्त्वा एकद्वित्रिक्रमान् न्यसेत्

One should set out the breadth (viṣkambha) according to the divisions of the elements (bhūta-bhāga) and construct it as a square. Having then apportioned the length (āyāma) by the prescribed modules (mūrti), one should lay down the measures in units of one-, two-, or three-steps (krama).

Verse 3

ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवांशेषु वर्धमानोयमुच्यते चतुरस्रेस्य वर्णार्धं गुह्यकोणेषु लाञ्छयेत्

This is called the ‘Vardhamāna’ when applied to the portions (aṃśa) of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva. In a square (diagram), one should mark (inscribe) half of the syllables/letters in the concealed corners (guhya-koṇa).

Verse 4

अष्टाग्रं वैष्णवं भागं सिध्यत्येव न संशयः षोडशास्रं ततः कुर्याद्द्वात्रिंशास्रं ततः पुनः

The Vaiṣṇava division (diagram/form) having eight points is accomplished indeed—there is no doubt. Thereafter one should construct a sixteen-angled figure, and again thereafter a thirty-two-angled figure.

Verse 5

चतुःषष्ट्यस्रकं कृत्वा वर्तुलं साधयेत्ततः कर्तयेदथ लिङ्गस्य शिरो वै देशिकोत्तमः

Having first made it with sixty-four facets (or sides), he should then refine it into a circular form; thereafter, the excellent officiating ācārya should shape the “head” (upper portion) of the liṅga.

Verse 6

विस्तारमथ लिङ्गस्य अष्टधा संविभाजयेत् भागार्धार्धन्तु सन्त्यज्य च्छत्राकारं शिरो भवेत्

Next, one should divide the breadth (diameter) of the liṅga into eight parts. Discarding half of one part, the head (top) should be formed in the shape of an umbrella (parasol).

Verse 7

त्रिषु भागेषु सदृशमायामं यस्य चिस्तरः तद्विभागसमं लिङ्गं सर्वकामफलप्रदं

That liṅga whose length and breadth are proportionate in three equal divisions—i.e., made with measurements matching those three sections—is said to bestow the fruits of all desired aims.

Verse 8

दैर्घ्यस्य तु चतुर्थेन विष्कम्भं देवपूजिते सर्वेषामेव लिङ्गानां लक्षणं शृणु साम्प्रतं

O you who are worshipped by the gods, let the diameter (thickness) be one-fourth of the total length. Now hear, at present, the defining characteristics of all (types of) liṅgas.

Verse 9

मध्यसूत्रं समासाद्य ब्रह्मरुद्रान्तिकं बुधः षोडशाङ्गुललिङ्गस्य षड्भागैर् भाजितो यथा

Having located the central guideline (axis), the wise officiant should mark the Brahmā- and Rudra-zones; thus, in the case of a liṅga of sixteen aṅgulas, it is to be divided into six equal parts.

Verse 10

तद्वैयमनसूत्राभ्यां मानमन्तरमुच्यते यवाष्टमुत्तरे कार्यं शेषाणां यवहानितः

This is indeed declared to be the intermediate measure, determined by the measuring-rod and the measuring-cord. For the next (higher) measure one should add one-eighth of a yava; for the remaining measures, the rule is diminution by yavas.

Verse 11

अधोभागं त्रिधा कृत्वा त्वर्धमेकं परित्यजेत् व्रजेदात्यन्तिकमिति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः अष्टधा तद्द्वयं कृत्वा ऊर्ध्वभागत्र्यं त्यजेत्

Having divided the lower portion into three parts, one should discard one half; thus one reaches the “ultimate” (i.e., final/most refined) measure—so reads the “ga” variant in the marked manuscript. (Alternatively:) having divided that pair into eight parts, one should discard three parts of the upper portion.

Verse 12

ऊर्ध्वञ्च पञ्चमाद्भागाद् भ्राम्य रेखां प्रलम्बयेत् भागमेकं परित्यज्य सङ्गं कारयेत्तयोः

From the fifth division, one should turn upward and drop a perpendicular line. Leaving out one division, one should then make the junction (connection) of those two lines.

Verse 13

एतत् साधारणं प्रोक्तं लिङ्गानां लक्षणं मया सर्वसाधारणं वक्ष्ये पिण्डिकान्तान्निबोध मे

Thus I have stated the general characteristics of the (Śiva-)liṅgas. Now I shall explain what is universally applicable to all of them, up to the end of the piṇḍikā (the pedestal/base); listen to me.

Verse 14

ब्रह्मभागप्रवेशञ्च ज्ञात्वा लिङ्गस्य चोच्छ्रयं न्यसेद् ब्रह्मशिलां विद्वान् सम्यक्कर्मशिलोपरि

Having ascertained the entry/penetration of the Brahma-portion (the designated Brahma-point/measure) and also the height of the liṅga, the learned officiant should place the Brahma-stone (brahmaśilā) correctly upon the duly prepared ritual/working stone-slab.

Verse 15

तथा सुमुच्छ्रयं ज्ञात्वा पिण्डिकां प्रविभाजयेत् द्विभागमुच्छ्रितं पीठं विस्तारं लिङ्गसम्मितम्

Likewise, having ascertained the proper elevation (projection/height), one should proportion and divide the piṇḍikā (pedestal-base). The pīṭha (seat/pedestal) should rise to two parts in height, and its breadth should be measured in proportion to the liṅga.

Verse 16

त्रिभागं मध्यतः खातं कृत्वा पीठं विभाजयेत् स्वमानार्धत्रिभागेण बाहुल्यं परिकल्पयेत्

Having made a central recess (khāta) of one-third, one should proportion and divide the pedestal (pīṭha); and its bāhulya (projection/width) should be set at one-third of half of its own measure.

Verse 17

बाहुल्यस्य त्रिभागेण मेखलामथ कल्पयेत् खातं स्यान्मेखलातुल्यं क्रमान्निम्नन्तु कारयेत्

Then one should construct the mekhalā (encircling band/berm) using one-third of the prescribed bāhulya (thickness/width). The trench (khāta) should be of equal measure to the mekhalā, and it should be made gradually sloping downward in due order.

Verse 18

मेखलाषोडशांशेन खातं वा तत्प्रमाणज्ञः उच्छ्रायं तस्य पीठस्य विकाराङ्गं तु कारयेत्

Knowing the correct measurements, one should make the cutting or recess to the extent of one-sixteenth of the mekhalā (girdle-band); and one should also construct the elevation of that pīṭha, together with its moulded or ornamental members (vikārāṅga).

Verse 19

भूमौ प्रविष्टमेकं तु भागैकेन पिण्डिका कण्ठं भागैस्त्रिभिः कार्यं भागेनैकेन पट्टिका

Of the measured parts, one part is to be set into the ground as the piṇḍikā (pedestal-base). The neck (kaṇṭha) is to be made of three parts, and the paṭṭikā (fillet/plate-band) of one part.

Verse 20

द्यंगेन चोर्ध्वपट्टन्तु एकांशाः शेषपट्टिका भागं भागं प्रविष्टन्तु यावत् कण्ठं ततः पुनः

Then, with the (bodily) limb(s) raised, arrange the upper band; fix one portion, and insert the remaining strip section by section until it reaches the throat; thereafter, again, repeat/continue the arrangement.

Verse 21

निर्गमं भागमेकं तु यावद्वै शेषपट्टिका प्रणालस्य त्रिभागेन निर्गमस्तु त्रिभागतः

The outlet-projection (nirgama) should be one part in measure, up to the extent of the remaining cornice-band (śeṣa-paṭṭikā). For the water-spout (praṇāla), the outlet is to be set by dividing it into three parts—i.e., proportioned according to one-third measures.

Verse 22

मध्यतः कृत्वा ततः पीठमिति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः विकारांशांश्चेति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः भागेनैकेनेति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः चार्धपट्टन्तु इति ख, ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः मूलेङ्गुल्यग्रविस्तारमग्रे त्र्यंशेन चार्धतः ईषन्निम्नन्तु कुर्वीत खातं तच्चोत्तरेण वै पिण्डिकासहितं लिङ्गमेतत् साधारणं स्मृतम्

At the base, its breadth should be the width of a fingertip; toward the front it should be reduced by one-third and again made by a “half” proportion (i.e., tapered in due measure). One should fashion a slight depression (a shallow recess), and the outflow channel should be made on the northern side. A liṅga provided with a piṇḍikā (base pedestal) of this type is remembered as the “sādhāraṇa” (standard/common) liṅga.