Shloka 55
Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship
लिंगाद्धस्तशतं पुण्यं क्षेत्रे मानुषके विदुः । सहस्रारत्निमात्रं तु पुण्यक्षेत्रे तथार्षके
liṃgāddhastaśataṃ puṇyaṃ kṣetre mānuṣake viduḥ | sahasrāratnimātraṃ tu puṇyakṣetre tathārṣake
The wise declare that, in a sacred precinct established by human hands, the effective meritorious area extends one hundred hastas from the Śiva-liṅga. But in a truly holy field, sanctified by ṛṣis, it extends as far as a thousand rays (of the sun).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It teaches that sacredness is not only architectural but arises from Śiva’s presence and the sanctifying power of an established kṣetra; a seer-sanctified holy field carries a far wider spiritual influence than an ordinary, man-made precinct.
The Liṅga is treated as Saguna Śiva’s accessible form; the verse quantifies the ‘field of grace’ around it, implying that worship, japa, and reverence performed within that sphere become especially fruitful.
Undertake darśana and pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) of the Liṅga within the sacred boundary, and perform mantra-japa (especially Śiva’s names/Pañcākṣarī) while staying close to the Liṅga in a recognized puṇya-kṣetra.