Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

लिङ्गार्चनविधिक्रमः—शुद्धि, न्यास, आसनकल्पना, अभिषेक, स्तोत्र-प्रदक्षिणा

Adhyaya 27

Devanagari script

अथ संप्रोक्षयेत्पश्चाद् द्रव्याणि प्रणवेन तु प्रोक्षणीपात्रसंस्थेन ईशानाद्यैश् च पञ्चभिः

Transliteration

atha saṃprokṣayetpaścād dravyāṇi praṇavena tu prokṣaṇīpātrasaṃsthena īśānādyaiś ca pañcabhiḥ

Translation

Then, afterwards, one should consecrate the ritual substances by sprinkling with the Praṇava, Oṁ, using the water set in the sprinkling vessel (prokṣaṇī), and also by employing the five (Brahma-)mantras beginning with Īśāna, thus making the offerings fit for the worship of Pati, Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• अथ (atha): then

• संप्रोक्षयेत् (saṃprokṣayet): should sprinkle/ritually purify

• पश्चात् (paścāt): afterwards

• द्रव्याणि (dravyāṇi): substances/offerings

• प्रणवेन (praṇavena): with the Pranava (Oṃ)

• तु (tu): indeed

• प्रोक्षणीपात्रसंस्थेन (prokṣaṇīpātra-saṃsthena): with (water) placed in the sprinkling vessel

• ईशानाद्यैः (īśānādyaiḥ): with (mantras) beginning with Īśāna

• च (ca): and

• पञ्चभिः (pañcabhiḥ): by five (mantras)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the puja-vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prescribes prokṣaṇa (ritual sprinkling) of all offerings with Oṃ and the five mantras beginning with Īśāna, making the dravyas ritually fit for Śiva-linga worship.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By requiring Pranava and the Īśāna-based fivefold mantra-current, it points to Śiva as Pati—the sanctifying consciousness through whom purification and sacred fitness of worship arise.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A core step of Śaiva pūjā-vidhi: mantra-infused purification (saṃprokṣaṇa) using the prokṣaṇī vessel, aligning the worshipper’s act with Śaiva mantra-tattva.