Shloka 106

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

लिंगेप्रसूतिकर्तारं लिंगिनं पुरुषो यजेत् । लिंगार्थगमकं चिह्नं लिंगमित्यभिधीयते

Transliteration

liṃgeprasūtikartāraṃ liṃginaṃ puruṣo yajet | liṃgārthagamakaṃ cihnaṃ liṃgamityabhidhīyate

Translation

A person should worship the Liṅgī—Śiva, the indwelling Lord who is the cause of the Liṅga’s manifestation (prasūti). That mark (cihna) which makes the meaning of the Liṅga known is itself called “liṅga.”

Word by Word

• लिङ्ग-प्रसूति-कर्तारम्: the maker/producer of the liṅga’s generation
• लिङ्ग-प्रसूति-कर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसूति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: लिङ्गस्य प्रसूतेः कर्ता

• लिङ्गिनम्: the possessor of the liṅga / liṅgī
• लिङ्गिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• पुरुषः: a man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice to
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• लिङ्ग-अर्थ-गमकम्: that which conveys the meaning of liṅga
• लिङ्ग-अर्थ-गमकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + गमक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: लिङ्गस्य अर्थं गमयति इति

• चिह्नम्: mark/sign
• चिह्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय)

• अभिधीयते: is called/denoted
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धा (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); Passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग): ‘is called’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific verse; it articulates the Siddhāntic distinction between liṅga (sign/arcā) and liṅgī (the Lord signified), applicable to all liṅga-kṣetras.

Significance: Clarifies that worship is directed to the transcendent-immanent Lord (liṅgī) through the emblem (liṅga), preventing mere materialism in ritual.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Liṅga is not merely an object but a sacred sign that reveals Śiva (the Liṅgī), directing the devotee from symbol to the Lord it signifies—supporting devotion that culminates in liberation.

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

Liṅga worship is Saguna-upāsanā: the devotee venerates a perceivable form/sign, yet the verse insists the true aim is the Liṅgī—Śiva Himself—whom the sign indicates.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with the inner contemplation that the Liṅga is a pointer to Śiva; worship the Lord as the indwelling Reality while offering water, flowers, and mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).