Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

चूर्णयित्वा यथान्यायं क्षिपेदाचमनीयके । एतत्सर्वेषु पात्रेषु दापयेच्चन्दनान्वितम्

Transliteration

cūrṇayitvā yathānyāyaṃ kṣipedācamanīyake | etatsarveṣu pātreṣu dāpayeccandanānvitam

Translation

Having properly powdered it according to the prescribed rule, one should place it into the vessel meant for ācamana (ritual sipping). Then, mixed with sandalwood, this should be distributed for offering into all the ritual vessels.

Word by Word

• cūrṇayitvā: having powdered/ground
• cūrṇayitvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cūrṇ (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), pūrva-kāla-kriyā

• yathā-nyāyam: according to proper procedure
• yathā-nyāyam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa (यथान्यायम् = according to rule); kriyā-viśeṣaṇa

• kṣipet: should throw/place
• kṣipet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• ācamanīyake: in the vessel for sipping water (ācamanīya)
• ācamanīyake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācamanīyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (or napuṃsaka in some usages), Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; here as adhikaraṇa (location)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘candanānvitam’ (implied dravyaṃ)

• sarveṣu: in all
• sarveṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Saptamī (7th), Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘pātreṣu’

• pātreṣu: in the vessels
• pātreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Saptamī (7th), Bahuvacana

• dāpayet: should cause to be given / should distribute
• dāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु, causative/णिच्: dāpay-)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ṇijanta (causative)

• candana-anvitam: mixed/combined with sandalwood
• candana-anvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √i/anu-√i in sense ‘endowed’)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa (चन्दनेन अन्वितम् = endowed with sandal)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion to Lord Shiva is strengthened by niyama (disciplined procedure): preparing substances correctly and sanctifying all vessels reflects inner purification, aligning the worshipper (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through orderly, reverent action.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is highly procedural: offerings are not random but consecrated and distributed into designated vessels. Sandalwood signifies cooling auspiciousness and devotional refinement offered to Saguna Shiva during pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is careful preparation of pūjā materials: powdering the substance as prescribed, placing it in the ācamana vessel, and distributing sandalwood-mixed offering to all vessels—done with mantra-recitation (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a focused, pure mind.