Shloka 71

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

धनुर्मासे विशेषेण महानैवेद्यमाचरेत् । शालितंडुलभारेण मरीचप्रस्थकेन च

Transliteration

dhanurmāse viśeṣeṇa mahānaivedyamācaret | śālitaṃḍulabhāreṇa marīcaprasthakena ca

Translation

Especially in the month of Dhanur, one should perform a grand food-offering (mahā-naivedya) to Lord Śiva—using a full load of śāli rice-grains and also a measure (prastha) of black pepper (marīca).

Word by Word

• धनुः-मासे: in the month of Dhanus (Dhanuḥmāsa)
• धनुः-मासे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially: ‘especially’)

• महा-नैवेद्यम्: a great food-offering (naivedya)
• महा-नैवेद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• शालि-तण्डुल-भारेण: with a load/quantity of śāli rice-grains
• शालि-तण्डुल-भारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि (प्रातिपदिक) + तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मरीच-प्रस्थकेन: with a prastha-measure of pepper
• मरीच-प्रस्थकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीच (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रस्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Śiva is famed as Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha, where offering and feeding (anna-dāna/naivedya) is especially meritorious; the verse’s mahānaivedya instruction aligns with Kāśī’s annapūrṇā-Śiva devotional ecosystem.

Significance: Mahānaivedya in a sacred month is framed as sustaining devotion and accruing puṇya; in Kāśī-traditions, food-offering and feeding devotees are linked with Śiva’s protective grace and steadying of the mind.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Dhanurmāsa (solar month when the Sun transits Sagittarius), traditionally a period of heightened vrata and devotional giving.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion becomes especially fruitful when expressed through disciplined worship and generous offering (naivedya) in sacred times like Dhanurmāsa, aligning the devotee’s effort (kriyā) with Śiva-bhakti.

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

The instruction is practical and ritual-centered: by offering mahānaivedya to the Śiva-liṅga (Saguna Śiva worship), the devotee honors Śiva as the accessible Lord (Pati) who receives offerings and grants grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A grand naivedya offering during Dhanurmāsa—preparing a substantial rice offering with marīca (pepper) as specified—ideally accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a focused devotional attitude.