Shloka 101
पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्
Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon
भं वृद्धिं गच्छतीत्यर्थाद्भगः प्रकृतिरुच्यते । प्राकृतैः शब्दमात्राद्यैः प्राकृतेंद्रियभोजनात्
bhaṃ vṛddhiṃ gacchatītyarthādbhagaḥ prakṛtirucyate | prākṛtaiḥ śabdamātrādyaiḥ prākṛteṃdriyabhojanāt
Because the syllable “bha” conveys the sense of “that which grows and expands,” the term “bhaga” is spoken of as Prakṛti, primordial Nature. It is so called because it is constituted of natural subtle elements—beginning with sound as mere tanmātra—and because it serves as the field of enjoyment for the natural (material) sense-faculties.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It defines Prakṛti as the expanding material principle made of subtle elements (tanmātras) and the domain where the senses experience objects—implying that liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta comes by turning from sense-driven bhoga toward Shiva (Pati), the transcendent Lord beyond Prakṛti.
Linga-worship anchors the mind in Shiva as the Lord of Prakṛti rather than in Prakṛti’s sound, touch, form, taste, and smell. By worshiping Saguna Shiva through the Linga, the devotee purifies sensory life and gradually realizes Shiva as the inner ruler who is not limited by material expansion.
A practical takeaway is sense-restraint supported by japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused Linga-dhyāna, so that the senses cease treating Prakṛti as “enjoyment” and instead become instruments of Shiva-bhakti.