Shloka 91

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

तस्माज्जन्मनिवृत्त्यर्थं शिवलिंगं प्रपूजयेत् । माता देवी बिंदुरूपा नादरूपः शिवः पिता

Transliteration

tasmājjanmanivṛttyarthaṃ śivaliṃgaṃ prapūjayet | mātā devī biṃdurūpā nādarūpaḥ śivaḥ pitā

Translation

Therefore, for the cessation of rebirth, one should worship the Śiva-liṅga. The Goddess is the Mother in the form of Bindu, and Śiva, the Father, is in the form of Nāda.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन (ablative: ‘from that/therefore’)

• जन्मनिवृत्त्यर्थम्: for the purpose of ending rebirth
• जन्मनिवृत्त्यर्थम्: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जन्मनिवृत्तेः अर्थः = ‘for the purpose of cessation of birth’)

• शिवलिंगम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिंगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य लिङ्गम्)

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (injunctive sense: ‘one should worship’)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition to माता)

• बिंदुरूपा: of the form of bindu
• बिंदुरूपा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बिन्दोः रूपा)

• नादरूपः: of the form of nāda
• नादरूपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नादस्य रूपः)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• पिता: father
• पिता: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition to शिवः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Liṅga-pūjā is presented as soteriological: janma-nivṛtti (cessation of rebirth) through Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: saṃsāra-nivṛtti (turning from birth-cycle toward mokṣa)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi (Shakti/Parvati)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that devotion to the Śiva-liṅga is a direct means toward janma-nivṛtti—ending the cycle of rebirth—because the liṅga embodies Pati (Śiva) together with His inseparable Śakti, the source of grace leading to liberation.

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

It presents the liṅga as the accessible saguna symbol through which the devotee approaches the transcendent reality: Śiva as Nāda (conscious sound) and Devī as Bindu (seed-power). Worship of the liṅga thus integrates form-worship with inner contemplation of Śiva-Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform liṅga-pūjā with mantra and devotion, and meditate inwardly on Nāda-Bindu—subtle sound and seed-point—while japa of Śiva-mantras (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) supports steadiness and liberation-oriented worship.