Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

एवं बेरं च संस्थाप्यं तत्रैव परमं शुभम् । पंचाक्षरेण बेरं तु उत्सवार्थं वहिस्तथा

Transliteration

evaṃ beraṃ ca saṃsthāpyaṃ tatraiva paramaṃ śubham | paṃcākṣareṇa beraṃ tu utsavārthaṃ vahistathā

Translation

Thus, one should install the bera—the consecrated icon of Śiva—there itself in the most auspicious manner. And for festival worship, one should also carry the bera outside, continually sanctifying it with the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Namaḥ Śivāya.”

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of manner)

• beram: the icon/image (bera)
• beram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• saṃsthāpyam: should be installed
• saṃsthāpyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√sthā (स्था) (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘स्थापनीयम्’ (to be installed)

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

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (particle of emphasis)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• śubham: auspicious (thing/act)
• śubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• paṃca-akṣareṇa: with the five-syllabled (mantra)
• paṃca-akṣareṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (पञ्च अक्षराणि यस्य/पञ्चाक्षरः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• beram: the icon/image
• beram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• utsava-artham: for the purpose of festival
• utsava-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utsava (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उत्सवस्य अर्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• vahiḥ: outside
• vahiḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb: outside)

• tathā: likewise/so
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/also)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā’s instructions on Śiva worship to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s worship is not only inward contemplation but also sacred, orderly devotion: the deity-form is installed with purity and auspiciousness, and the Pañcākṣarī mantra becomes the living current that sanctifies every act of worship.

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

The verse supports saguna-upāsanā (worship with form) through the bera used for public festival rites, while grounding it in mantra—showing that icon/bera worship and mantra worship work together in Śaiva practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

During installation and festival procession (utsava), keep the Pañcākṣarī (“Namaḥ Śivāya”) actively recited/japa—treating mantra as the primary purifier and protector of the rite.