Shloka 13

Harīśvara-liṅga Mahimā and the Origin-Context of Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana (हरिश्वरलिङ्गमहिमा तथा सुदर्शनप्राप्तिकथा)

Devanagari script

पार्थिवेन विधानेन मंत्रैर्नानाविधैरपि । स्तोत्रैश्चैवाप्यनेकैश्च गिरिशं चाभजन्मुदा

Transliteration

pārthivena vidhānena maṃtrairnānāvidhairapi | stotraiścaivāpyanekaiśca giriśaṃ cābhajanmudā

Translation

By the prescribed Pārthiva rite of earthen worship, with mantras of many kinds and with numerous hymns, he joyfully adored Girīśa—Śiva, the Lord of the Mountain.

Word by Word

• pārthivena: with earthen (materials)
• pārthivena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘vidhānena’

• vidhānena: by (proper) procedure/arrangement
• vidhānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• maṃtraiḥ: with mantras
• maṃtraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• nānā-vidhaiḥ: of various kinds
• nānā-vidhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-प्रयोग) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; कर्मधारय: ‘नानाः विधाः’ = various kinds; qualifying ‘maṃtraiḥ’

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात); sense: ‘also/even’

• stotraiḥ: with hymns
• stotraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात); emphasis (अवधारण)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात)

• anekaiḥ: with many
• anekaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying ‘stotraiḥ’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction

• giriśam: Giriśa (Lord of the mountain)
• giriśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; epithet of Śiva

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction

• abhajat: worshipped, adored
• abhajat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (भज् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada; with preverb abhi- (अभि)

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial instrumental (भावे तृतीया)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse specifies pārthiva-vidhāna—earthen/liṅga worship—widely practiced across Śiva-kṣetras; it is not tied here to a single Jyotirliṅga but reflects pan-Indian Śiva-pūjā praxis.

Significance: Pārthiva-liṅga pūjā is praised for accessibility and intensity of bhakti; it is often undertaken for victory, removal of obstacles, and Śiva’s quick grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights that joyful, disciplined devotion—performed according to śāstric injunctions with mantra and stotra—purifies the soul (paśu) and turns it toward Pati (Śiva), supporting the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal of grace arising through sincere worship.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The mention of the Pārthiva method points to Saguna Śiva worship through a tangible linga (often fashioned from earth), where form-supported devotion (arcana) becomes a doorway to realizing Śiva’s higher, formless reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pārthiva-linga pūjā with repeated Shiva-mantras (commonly the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and recitation of stotras—done with inner gladness and steady attention.