Shloka 76

Shivamurti–Pratishtha Phala: Shivalaya-Nirmana, Kshetra-Mahatmya, Tirtha-Snana, and Mandala-Vidhi

Devanagari script

ग्रहैश् च संवृतं वापि सूर्यसायुज्यमुत्तमम् एवं प्राकृतम् अप्यार्थ्यां षडस्रं परिकल्प्य च

Transliteration

grahaiś ca saṃvṛtaṃ vāpi sūryasāyujyamuttamam evaṃ prākṛtam apyārthyāṃ ṣaḍasraṃ parikalpya ca

Translation

Or else, enclosing it with the grahas (the nine planetary powers), one attains the supreme union (sāyujya) with Sūrya. Thus, even for a worldly aim, having first sought the desired result, one should also construct the hexagonal figure (ṣaḍ-asra) accordingly.

Word by Word

• ग्रहैः: by the planets (grahas)

• च: and

• संवृतम्: enclosed, surrounded

• वा अपि: or else, alternatively

• सूर्य-सायुज्यम्: union/identity with the Sun (Sūrya)

• उत्तमम्: highest, excellent

• एवम्: thus

• प्राकृतम्: worldly, pertaining to ordinary/material nature

• अपि: even

• आरथ्याम् (आर्थ्याम्): for the sake of an aim/desired object (artha)

• षड्-अस्रम्: six-cornered/hexagonal figure

• परिकल्प्य: having constructed/arranged

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating ritual-vidhi within the Linga Purana’s instruction)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Grahas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows how Linga-centered ritual geometry (yantra-kalpanā) can incorporate graha-enclosure as an upāya, redirecting even artha-driven worship toward higher states of sāyujya while remaining within a Shaiva ritual framework.

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

By prescribing structured worship that can elevate a practitioner from prākṛta (worldly) aims toward sāyujya, it implies Shiva-tattva as the supreme ordering principle (Pati) who allows lower aims to be purified and transcended through disciplined upāsanā.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A yantra-based puja method: surrounding the ritual focus with graha-symbols and constructing a ṣaḍ-asra (hexagon) for the intended fruit—an approach aligned with mantra–yantra upāsanā that can be integrated into Pashupata-oriented discipline.