Shloka 113

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

प्रणवं ध्वनिलिंगं तु नादलिंगं स्वयंभुवः । बिंदुलिंगं तु यंत्रं स्यान्मकारं तु प्रतिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

praṇavaṃ dhvaniliṃgaṃ tu nādaliṃgaṃ svayaṃbhuvaḥ | biṃduliṃgaṃ tu yaṃtraṃ syānmakāraṃ tu pratiṣṭhitam

Translation

The Praṇava (Oṁ) is the Liṅga as sound (dhvani); it is the Liṅga as inner resonance (nāda), self-manifest. The bindu is the Liṅga as the sacred point, to be contemplated as a yantra; and the syllable “ma” is established as its firm support in consecration (pratiṣṭhā).

Word by Word

• प्रणवम्: praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; (enumeration/apposition)

• ध्वनिलिङ्गम्: the liṅga of sound
• ध्वनिलिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वनि + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘ध्वनेः लिङ्गम्’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• नादलिङ्गम्: the liṅga of resonance (nāda)
• नादलिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘नादस्य लिङ्गम्’

• स्वयम्भुवः: of Svayambhū (the self-born)
• स्वयम्भुवः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• बिन्दुलिङ्गम्: the liṅga of the point/drop (bindu)
• बिन्दुलिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘बिन्दोः लिङ्गम्’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle)

• यन्त्रम्: a yantra/diagram
• यन्त्रम्: Adhikarana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा—कर्तृ/विषय-निर्देश (predicate nominative)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मकारम्: the letter ‘ma’
• मकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; (enumeration/apposition)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle)

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: established/fixed
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थापितम्/प्रतिष्ठापितम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s doctrine to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; it is a doctrinal mapping of liṅga as sound (dhvani), inner resonance (nāda), point-source (bindu) and yantra—an interior ‘jyoti’ theology rather than a geographic jyotirliṅga account.

Significance: Reframes pilgrimage inward: the true ‘Mahāliṅga’ is apprehended as praṇava, nāda, and bindu—guiding the devotee from external symbol to subtle realization.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (praṇava) — analyzed as dhvani/nāda/bindu

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Shiva’s Liṅga not only as a physical emblem but as the subtle reality of Praṇava (Om), nāda (inner vibration), and bindu (source-point), guiding the seeker from outer worship to inward contemplation aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta’s focus on Shiva as the supreme Pati.

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

It connects Saguna Liṅga worship with its subtle counterparts—sound (dhvani), inner nāda, and bindu—showing that external Liṅga-pūjā is supported by mantra and contemplative awareness of Shiva’s presence as the self-manifest spiritual principle.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and dhyāna on Om (Praṇava) with attention to nāda and bindu—often supported by yantra-style visualization—are implied as inner practices that complement Liṅga worship, especially during intensified observances like Mahāśivarātri.