Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

नवनीतमयं देवी योगी भस्ममयं तथा । यक्षा दधिमयं लिंगं छाया पिष्टमयं तथा

Transliteration

navanītamayaṃ devī yogī bhasmamayaṃ tathā | yakṣā dadhimayaṃ liṃgaṃ chāyā piṣṭamayaṃ tathā

Translation

The Goddess fashioned a Liṅga of fresh butter; the yogin likewise made one of sacred ash (bhasma). The Yakṣas made a Liṅga of curd, and the Chāyā-beings also made one of flour-dough.

Word by Word

• navanīta-mayam: made of butter
• navanīta-mayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navanīta (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तद्धितान्त विशेषण (maya)

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yogī: a yogi
• yogī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhasma-mayam: made of ash
• bhasma-mayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तद्धितान्त विशेषण (maya)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• yakṣāḥ: Yakṣas
• yakṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dadhi-mayam: made of curd
• dadhi-mayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तद्धितान्त विशेषण (maya)

• liṅgam: liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• chāyā: Chāyā (name)/shadow
• chāyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• piṣṭa-mayam: made of flour/dough
• piṣṭa-mayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: piṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; from √piṣ ‘to grind’, क्त) + maya (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तद्धितान्त विशेषण (maya)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Aghoramūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Demonstration of Śiva’s accessibility: diverse beings craft liṅgas from perishable dravyas, implying anugraha responding to bhakti rather than material permanence

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva, as Pati (the Lord), accepts sincere devotion expressed through simple, available substances—showing that inner bhakti matters more than external luxury.

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

By listing Liṅgas made from butter, bhasma, curd, and dough, the text highlights Saguna worship: the formless Śiva is approached through a concrete Liṅga-form suited to the devotee’s capacity and context.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It supports simple Liṅga-pūjā with pure materials and especially points to bhasma-based devotion (Tripuṇḍra/holy ash) as a yogic Shaiva marker, accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī.