Shloka 32

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

Adhyaya 27

Devanagari script

स्नापयेद्विधिना रुद्रं गन्धचन्दनवारिणा पञ्चगव्यविधानेन गृह्य पात्रे ऽभिमन्त्र्य च

Transliteration

snāpayedvidhinā rudraṃ gandhacandanavāriṇā pañcagavyavidhānena gṛhya pātre 'bhimantrya ca

Translation

One should bathe Rudra in the prescribed manner with water infused with fragrance and sandalwood. And, according to the rite of pañcagavya, having taken it in a consecrated vessel, one should first sanctify it with mantras and then perform the ablution—thus honoring Pati (Śiva) and loosening the pāśa-bonds of the paśu (the soul).

Word by Word

• स्नापयेत्: should bathe/perform ablution

• विधिना: according to rule/ritual injunction

• रुद्रं: Rudra (Śiva, the Lord)

• गन्ध: perfume/fragrance

• चन्दन: sandalwood

• वारिणा: with water

• पञ्चगव्यविधानेन: by the procedure involving pañcagavya (five cow-products used ritually)

• गृह्य: having taken/receiving (for ritual use)

• पात्रे: in a vessel

• अभिमन्त्र्य: having empowered/sanctified by reciting mantras

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It prescribes a core abhiṣeka method—fragrant sandal-water and pañcagavya, mantra-consecrated in a vessel—showing that Linga/Rudra worship is a disciplined sacramental rite, not merely symbolic devotion.

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

Śiva is addressed as Rudra and implicitly as Pati, the Lord who is approached through purity (śuddhi) and mantra; the rite signifies the soul’s movement from pāśa (bondage) toward grace through correct worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-śuddha abhiṣeka: sanctifying the offering in a ritual vessel (pātra) and bathing Rudra with gandha-candana water and pañcagavya—an external pūjā practice aligned with Pāśupata discipline of purification.