Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 68

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

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Devanagari script

पञ्चवारं जपेन्मूलमष्टोत्तरशतं ततः । ततो मूलेन मूर्धादिपीठांतं संस्पृशेदपि

Transliteration

pañcavāraṃ japenmūlamaṣṭottaraśataṃ tataḥ | tato mūlena mūrdhādipīṭhāṃtaṃ saṃspṛśedapi

Translation

One should repeat the root-mantra five times, and then repeat it one hundred and eight times. Thereafter, while uttering that very root-mantra, one should touch the sacred seats of the body from the head up to the final seat, thus consecrating the body for Śiva’s worship.

Word by Word

• pañcavāram: five times
• pañcavāram: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañca-vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial compound

• japet: should chant
• japet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: Potential Mood (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• mūlam: root mantra
• mūlam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• aṣṭottaraśatam: one hundred and eight
• aṣṭottaraśatam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa-uttara-śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time/sequence

• mūlena: with the root mantra
• mūlena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• mūrdhādipīṭhāṃtam: from the head to the seat
• mūrdhādipīṭhāṃtam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūrdha-ādi-pīṭha-anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saṃspṛśet: should touch
• saṃspṛśet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Potential Mood (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• api: also/even
• api: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Body-consecration (aṅga-śuddhi) through mantra and touch aligns the paśu toward pati; prepares the worshipper for effective arcana and reception of grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-japa is not merely verbal repetition: by combining counted recitation (5 and 108) with consecrating touch (nyāsa), the seeker purifies the body-mind as a fit vessel for Pati—Lord Śiva—supporting inwardness, devotion, and liberation.

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

Before approaching the Liṅga (Saguna Śiva worship), the practitioner sanctifies the body through the mūla-mantra and nyāsa, aligning the senses and subtle centers so the offering becomes disciplined, reverent, and Śiva-centered rather than merely external ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A japa-krama followed by nyāsa: chant the root-mantra five times, then 108 times, and then touch the bodily seats from the head onward while repeating the same mantra—an internal purification and concentration practice used in Śaiva worship.