Shloka 111

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

आदिवारे पंचगव्यैरभिषेको विशिष्यते । गोमयं गोजलं क्षीरं दध्याज्यं पंचगव्यकम्

Transliteration

ādivāre paṃcagavyairabhiṣeko viśiṣyate | gomayaṃ gojalaṃ kṣīraṃ dadhyājyaṃ paṃcagavyakam

Translation

On Sunday, abhiṣeka to Śiva is especially commended when performed with the five products of the cow (pañcagavya): cow-dung, cow-urine (cow-water), milk, curd, and ghee.

Word by Word

• आदिवारे: on the first day (Sunday)
• आदिवारे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पञ्चगव्यैः: with pañcagavya (five cow-products)
• पञ्चगव्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (पञ्च गव्यानि यस्मिन्/येन)

• अभिषेकः: ablution / consecratory bathing
• अभिषेकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विशिष्यते: is especially distinguished / excels
• विशिष्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is distinguished/excels)

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गोः मयम्)

• गोजलम्: cow-urine
• गोजलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गोः जलम्)

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• दधि: curd / yogurt
• दधि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• आज्यम्: ghee
• आज्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पञ्चगव्यकम्: pañcagavya (the fivefold cow-product mixture)
• पञ्चगव्यकम्: समानााधिकरण/पुनरुक्ति (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + गव्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास; समाहारार्थ (the set of five cow-products)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

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 devotion expressed through prescribed purity-rites (abhiṣeka) becomes especially efficacious when offered with pañcagavya, symbolizing purification of body, speech, and mind in service to Pati (Śiva).

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

The instruction is explicitly about abhiṣeka—ritual bathing of the Śiva-liṅga—an act of saguna worship where the devotee serves Śiva through tangible offerings while contemplating His transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform liṅga-abhiṣeka on Sunday using pañcagavya (gomaya, go-jala, milk, curd, ghee), ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a prayer for inner purification.