Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera

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Devanagari script

प्रधानहोमं कुर्वीत सप्तद्रव्यैर्यथाक्रमम् । आचार्यात्पादमर्धं वा जुहुयुश्चापरे द्विजाः

Transliteration

pradhānahomaṃ kurvīta saptadravyairyathākramam | ācāryātpādamardhaṃ vā juhuyuścāpare dvijāḥ

Translation

He should perform the principal oblation (pradhāna-homa) in due order using seven prescribed substances. Some twice-born men may also offer into the fire a quarter or a half portion, in accordance with what is received from the teacher (ācārya).

Word by Word

• pradhāna-homam: the principal oblation/primary homa
• pradhāna-homam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारयभावः: ‘प्रधानः होमः’)

• kurvīta: should perform
• kurvīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• sapta-dravyaiḥ: with seven substances
• sapta-dravyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (‘सप्त द्रव्याणि’)

• yathā-kramam: in proper sequence
• yathā-kramam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘in due order’)

• ācāryāt: from the teacher / than the teacher
• ācāryāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (ablative: ‘from/than the teacher’)

• pādam: a quarter (part)
• pādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (measure: a quarter)

• ardham: a half
• ardham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (half)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• juhuyuḥ: they offered (oblations)
• juhuyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hu (हु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• apare: other
• apare: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (to dvijāḥ)

• dvijāḥ: twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, guru-guided worship: correct sequence and prescribed offerings purify the practitioner and steady devotion, making outer ritual (kriyā) a support for inner orientation toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Homa here functions as an auxiliary Shaiva rite that complements Saguna Shiva worship—offerings made with right order and intention are understood as being dedicated to Shiva, aiding purity and readiness for Linga-centered devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform the principal homa using seven specified materials in proper order, following the ācārya’s instruction; if capacity is limited, offer a quarter or half portion with sincerity and rule-based discipline.