Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

चरे विशिष्यते सूक्ष्मं स्थावरे स्थूलमेव हि । सलक्षणं सपीठं च स्थापयेच्छिवनिर्मितम्

Transliteration

care viśiṣyate sūkṣmaṃ sthāvare sthūlameva hi | salakṣaṇaṃ sapīṭhaṃ ca sthāpayecchivanirmitam

Translation

In a movable (portable) form, the emblem is preferred as subtle; but in an immovable (fixed) form, it is indeed preferred as large. One should install the Śiva-made (Śiva-sanctioned) emblem with its proper marks and together with its pedestal (pīṭha).

Word by Word

• चरे: in the movable (liṅga)
• चरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/excels
• विशिष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘विशेषं गच्छति/श्रेष्ठतां याति’

• सूक्ष्मम्: the subtle (form)
• सूक्ष्मम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (subject/predicate)

• स्थावरे: in the immovable (liṅga)
• स्थावरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• स्थूलम्: the gross (form)
• स्थूलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• स-लक्षणम्: with marks/characteristics
• स-लक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘लक्षणेन सह’ = ‘लक्षणयुक्तम्’

• स-पीठम्: with pedestal/base
• स-पीठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘पीठेन सह’ = ‘पीठयुक्तम्’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• स्थापयेत्: should स्थापित/should install
• स्थापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच् (causative) ‘स्थापयति’

• शिवनिर्मितम्: made by Śiva
• शिवनिर्मितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + निर्मित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘शिवेन निर्मितम्’ (instrumental tatpurusha; PPP ‘निर्मित’)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā teachings on Liṅga-worship to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; this is a general Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara-saṃhitā injunction on liṅga-pratiṣṭhā (installation) distinguishing movable (cara) and immovable (sthāvara) icons and requiring proper lakṣaṇa and pīṭha.

Significance: Frames correct liṅga-installation as a dharma that stabilizes worship and makes the shrine a fit locus for Śiva’s anugraha through daily pūjā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s worship may be approached through appropriate form: a subtle portable liṅga for personal, inward devotion and a substantial fixed liṅga for public, temple-centered worship—both to be established with correct sacred characteristics, aligning outer practice with inner reverence.

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

The verse affirms Saguna upāsanā: the liṅga is a consecrated support for devotion to Pati (Śiva). Proper lakṣaṇa and the pīṭha ensure the icon is ritually and symbolically complete, making worship orderly, tradition-rooted, and spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests correct pratiṣṭhā (installation) according to context—portable for daily personal pūjā and fixed for temple worship—performed with reverence and supported by mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during worship.