Shloka 23

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

Adhyaya 27

Devanagari script

गन्धपुष्पैस् तथा धूपैर् विविधैः पूज्य शङ्करम् स्कन्दं विनायकं देवीं लिङ्गशुद्धिं च कारयेत्

Transliteration

gandhapuṣpais tathā dhūpair vividhaiḥ pūjya śaṅkaram skandaṃ vināyakaṃ devīṃ liṅgaśuddhiṃ ca kārayet

Translation

After worshipping Śaṅkara with fragrant substances, flowers, and various kinds of incense, one should also honor Skanda, Vināyaka, and the Devī, and then have the purification of the Liṅga performed.

Word by Word

• गन्धपुष्पैः: with perfumes and flowers

• तथा: and also

• धूपैः: with incense

• विविधैः: of various kinds

• पूज्य: having worshipped / after worshipping

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Shiva, the auspicious Pati)

• स्कन्दम्: Skanda (Kārttikeya)

• विनायकम्: Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)

• देवीम्: the Goddess (Śakti)

• लिङ्गशुद्धिम्: purification/consecratory cleansing of the Liṅga

• च: and

• कारयेत्: should cause to be done / should perform (through proper rite).

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Skanda
• Ganesha
• Devi (Shakti)

FAQs

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

It sets the correct pūjā-sequence: honor Śiva with upacāras (fragrance, flowers, incense), invoke the supporting deities (Skanda, Vināyaka, Devī), and then perform liṅga-śuddhi so the worship becomes ritually and spiritually fit for approaching Pati (Śiva).

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

By naming Him Śaṅkara, it emphasizes Shiva as the auspicious Pati who grants śuddhi (purification) and anugraha (grace), with the Liṅga serving as His sacred, accessible manifestation for the bound soul (paśu) seeking release from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical pūjā-vidhi is highlighted: offering gandha-puṣpa-dhūpa and performing liṅga-śuddhi. This supports inner purification as a prerequisite for Pāśupata-oriented discipline, where external cleanliness mirrors the paśu’s movement toward freedom from pāśa through devotion to Pati.