Shloka 114

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

उकारं चरलिंगं स्यादकारं गुरुविग्रहम् । षड्लिंगं पूजया नित्यं जीवन्मुक्तो न संशयः

Transliteration

ukāraṃ caraliṃgaṃ syādakāraṃ guruvigraham | ṣaḍliṃgaṃ pūjayā nityaṃ jīvanmukto na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

The letter “U” is said to be the moving (cara) Liṅga, and the letter “A” is the very form of the Guru. One who worships the sixfold Liṅga daily becomes liberated while living—of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• ukāram: the letter ‘u’ (ukāra)
• ukāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ukāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object/topic in equation with ‘liṅgam’

• cara-liṅgam: the moving liṅga
• cara-liṅgam: Pradhāna (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cara (प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; predicate complement with syāt

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘would be/should be’

• akāram: the letter ‘a’ (akāra)
• akāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• guru-vigraham: the guru’s form
• guru-vigraham: Pradhāna (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘form/body of the guru’ as predicate complement

• ṣaṭ-liṅgam: the sixfold liṅga
• ṣaṭ-liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu ‘six liṅgas’ as object (understood: worship/meditate)

• pūjayā: by worship
• pūjayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; means/instrument

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणवत् द्वितीया) meaning ‘always’

• jīvan-muktaḥ: living-liberated one
• jīvan-muktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvat (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• na: no/not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Pradhāna (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā the teaching is framed around Viśveśvara (Kāśī), where liṅga-worship, praṇava, and guru-upadeśa are presented as direct means to Śiva’s grace and jīvanmukti.

Significance: Darśana and worship are held to grant rapid purification and firm bhakti culminating in liberation (mokṣa/jīvanmukti) through Śiva’s anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation is attainable here and now through steady daily worship that unites mantra-symbolism (letters like A and U), devotion to Shiva as Liṅga, and reverence for the Guru as the living conduit of Shiva’s grace.

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

By calling one aspect “cara-liṅga” (moving/manifest), it points to Saguna Shiva accessible in lived practice—seen in worship, guidance, and presence—while the Liṅga remains the central emblem through which the devotee approaches Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily Liṅga-pūjā accompanied by mantra-based contemplation of sacred syllables (A, U) and Guru-bhakti—treating the Guru as Shiva’s form and the worship as a consistent, life-transforming sādhana.