Shloka 60

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

लिङ्गमूर्तिं महाज्वालामालासंवृतम् अव्ययम् लिङ्गस्य मध्ये वै कृत्वा चन्द्रशेखरमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

liṅgamūrtiṃ mahājvālāmālāsaṃvṛtam avyayam liṅgasya madhye vai kṛtvā candraśekharamīśvaram

Translation

Meditate upon the form of the Liṅga as imperishable, encircled by a great garland of flames; and, placing within the very center of that Liṅga, contemplate Īśvara as Candraśekhara—the Lord who bears the moon—Pati, the supreme ruler who frees the paśu (bound soul) from pāśa (bondage).

Word by Word

• लिङ्गमूर्तिम्: the Liṅga-form

• महाज्वाला-माला-संवृतम्: surrounded/encircled by a great garland/chain of flames

• अव्ययम्: imperishable, undecaying

• लिङ्गस्य: of the Liṅga

• मध्ये: in the middle/center

• वै: indeed

• कृत्वा: having placed/established (in contemplation)

• चन्द्रशेखरम्: Candraśekhara, the moon-crested

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord, Īśvara

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja and dhyana instructions to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Candraśekhara)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a core dhyāna for liṅga-pūjā: visualizing the Liṅga as avyaya (imperishable) and ringed by blazing radiance, then fixing awareness on Śiva (Candraśekhara) in its center—treating the Liṅga as the living presence of Pati.

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

Śiva is presented as Īśvara within the Liṅga—unchanging (avyaya) and self-luminous (jvālā). In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, this points to Pati as transcendent yet immanent, dwelling in the sacred symbol while remaining beyond decay and limitation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights dhyāna-yoga within pūjā: inner placement (mānasa-pratiṣṭhā) of Candraśekhara in the Liṅga’s center, a contemplative method aligned with Pāśupata-oriented worship that loosens pāśa through focused awareness of Pati.