Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

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

Adhyaya 27

Devanagari script

प्रणवेनैव गव्यैस्तु स्नापयेच्च यथाविधि आज्येन मधुना चैव तथा चेक्षुरसेन च

Transliteration

praṇavenaiva gavyaistu snāpayecca yathāvidhi ājyena madhunā caiva tathā cekṣurasena ca

Translation

Chanting the Praṇava (Oṁ) alone, one should bathe the Liṅga in the prescribed manner with the consecrants derived from the cow; also with ghee, with honey, and likewise with sugarcane juice. In this abhiṣeka, the paśu (bound soul) approaches Pati (Śiva) through disciplined rite, and the pāśas (bondages) are loosened by purity, devotion, and mantra.

Word by Word

• प्रणवेन (praṇavena): with the Praṇava, Oṁ

• एव (eva): alone/indeed

• गव्यैः (gavyaiḥ): with cow-products, bovine consecrants (milk, curd, etc.)

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• स्नापयेत् (snāpayet): should bathe, perform abhiṣeka

• च (ca): and

• यथाविधि (yathāvidhi): according to rule, as prescribed

• आज्येन (ājyena): with ghee

• मधुना (madhunā): with honey

• चैव (caiva): and also

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• इक्षुरसेन (ikṣurasena): with sugarcane juice

• च (ca): and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja procedures to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Om (Pranava)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a core abhiṣeka method: bathing the Linga with sanctifying substances (cow-products, ghee, honey, sugarcane juice) while anchoring the rite in Praṇava (Oṁ), emphasizing purity and mantra as the gateway to Śiva’s grace.

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

By placing Oṁ at the center of the rite, it points to Śiva as the supreme Pati accessed through mantra and sacred order (vidhi), where ritual purity becomes a means for the pashu to move toward liberation from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Linga-abhiṣeka (ritual bathing) performed yathāvidhi with Praṇava-japa—an applied devotional discipline aligned with Pāśupata orientation: purifying conduct, mantra, and offering to weaken bondage.