Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

श्रद्धया शिवभक्ताय दत्तं शिवपदप्रदम् । अथवा प्रणवं नित्यं जपेद्दशसहस्रकम्

Transliteration

śraddhayā śivabhaktāya dattaṃ śivapadapradam | athavā praṇavaṃ nityaṃ japeddaśasahasrakam

Translation

Whatever is given with faith to a devotee of Śiva becomes a bestower of Śiva-pada—the state of Śiva, liberation. Or else, one should daily repeat the Praṇava (Oṁ) ten thousand times.

Word by Word

• śraddhayā: with faith
• śraddhayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया/करण (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (sg.)

• śiva-bhaktāya: to a devotee of Śiva
• śiva-bhaktāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √bhaj धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी/सम्प्रदान (4th/Dative), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'śivasya bhaktaḥ'

• dattam: (that which is) given
• dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (कृदन्त; √dā धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/कर्म (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle): 'given'

• śiva-pada-pradam: bestowing the state/abode of Śiva
• śiva-pada-pradam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √dā धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/कर्म (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'śivasya padaṃ pradadāti' = 'bestowing Śiva’s state'

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or/alternatively)

• praṇavam: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.)

• nityam: always/constantly
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन (adverbial accusative): 'always'

• japet: should recite/mutter
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (जप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.)

• daśa-sahasrakam: ten thousand (times)
• daśa-sahasrakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—द्विगुः: 'daśa sahasrāṇi' = 'ten thousand' (count)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-teachings to the sages, consistent with early Shiva Purana discourse style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere, faith-filled giving aligned to Śiva-bhakti and disciplined mantra-japa both purify the soul (paśu) and lead toward Śiva-pada—union with the Lord’s liberating grace (Pati’s anugraha) in Shaiva Siddhānta terms.

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

Serving Śiva’s devotees is treated as service to Śiva Himself (a Saguna mode of worship expressed through community and devotion), while Praṇava-japa internalizes worship—supporting both outer reverence to the Liṅga and inner contemplative remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily Praṇava (Oṁ) japa—traditionally counted as 10,000 repetitions—performed with steadiness and faith; additionally, devotional giving/offerings to Śiva’s devotees as a meritorious Shaiva practice.