Shloka 17

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

लिंगं तत्र प्रतिष्ठाप्य लिगं पीठेन योजयेत् । लिंगं सपीठं निक्षिप्य नित्यलेपेन बंधयेत्

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ tatra pratiṣṭhāpya ligaṃ pīṭhena yojayet | liṃgaṃ sapīṭhaṃ nikṣipya nityalepena baṃdhayet

Translation

Having installed the Liṅga there, one should unite the Liṅga with its pedestal (pīṭha). Setting the Liṅga together with the pedestal, one should secure it firmly by applying the prescribed binding-plaster (nitya-lepa) regularly.

Word by Word

• liṅgam: liṅga (emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of place)

• pratiṣṭhāpya: having installed
• pratiṣṭhāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√sthā (स्था) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having established)

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• pīṭhena: with the pedestal
• pīṭhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• yojayet: should join/attach
• yojayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (युज्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• sa-pīṭham: together with the pedestal
• sa-pīṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह/सहितार्थ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• nikṣipya: having placed
• nikṣipya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√kṣip (क्षिप्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having placed)

• nitya-lepena: with the permanent plaster/coating
• nitya-lepena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + lepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नित्यः लेपः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

• bandhayet: should bind/secure
• bandhayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bandh (बन्ध्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion must be supported by proper ritual order (vidhi): the Liṅga is to be स्थापित and stabilized, symbolizing steady, unwavering worship of Pati (Shiva) that leads the bound soul (paśu) toward grace and liberation.

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

The verse treats the Liṅga as the worshipful, accessible (saguṇa) form through which devotees approach the transcendent Shiva; fixing the Liṅga with its pīṭha indicates establishing a stable seat for daily pūjā, abhiṣeka, and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests the practical step of Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā—properly setting the Liṅga on its pedestal and sealing it according to tradition—supporting regular nitya-pūjā; devotees may accompany this with pañcākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during installation and daily worship.