Shloka 51

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

दीपसर्षपदानाच्च अपस्मारक्षयो भवेत् । कृत्तिकासोमवारेषु शिवस्य यजनं नृणाम्

Transliteration

dīpasarṣapadānācca apasmārakṣayo bhavet | kṛttikāsomavāreṣu śivasya yajanaṃ nṛṇām

Translation

By gifting a lamp and mustard seeds, the affliction of apasmāra (seizure-like disease and obscuring forgetfulness) is destroyed. For people, worship of Lord Śiva—especially when the Kṛttikā nakṣatra coincides with Monday—becomes particularly efficacious.

Word by Word

• दीपसर्षपदानात्: from giving lamps and mustard
• दीपसर्षपदानात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप-सर্ষप-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; समासः दीप + सर्षप (द्वन्द्व) + दान (तत्पुरुष-प्राय)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक/conjunction

• अपस्मारक्षयः: cessation of epilepsy
• अपस्मारक्षयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपस्मार-क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः अपस्मार-क्षय (तत्पुरुष)

• भवेत्: would occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कृत्तिकासोमवारेषु: on Mondays under Kṛttikā (nakṣatra)
• कृत्तिकासोमवारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका-सोम-वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; समासः कृत्तिका-सम्बन्धि + सोम-वार (तत्पुरुष)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• यजनम्: worship/sacrifice
• यजनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (here: प्रथमा as subject-noun)

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it links specific dāna (lamp, mustard) to removal of apasmāra and highlights a calendrical conjunction (Kṛttikā + Monday) as especially potent for Śiva-yajana.

Significance: Emphasizes obstacle-removal: apasmāra is both a medical affliction and a symbol of spiritual 'forgetfulness' (smṛti-bhraṃśa). Śiva’s grace restores clarity and steadiness for bhakti and jñāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse links dāna (charitable gifting) and Śiva-pūjā with the removal of both physical affliction (apasmāra) and its inner counterpart—spiritual forgetfulness and darkness—affirming Śiva as the Pati who dispels pasha-like bondage through grace.

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

It emphasizes accessible Saguna worship—serving Śiva through visible acts like offering light (dīpa) and performing ritual worship—an approach commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga as the concrete focus for devotion and purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-yajana (pūjā) particularly on Mondays, and when possible during Kṛttikā nakṣatra; accompany worship with dāna such as gifting a lamp (for dispelling darkness) and mustard seeds, as a practical vow-like observance.