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Shloka 144

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

मुखं लिंगमिति प्रोक्तं शिवभक्तशरीरकम् । मृतान्दाहादियुक्तान्वा दाहादिरहितान्मृतान्

Transliteration

mukhaṃ liṃgamiti proktaṃ śivabhaktaśarīrakam | mṛtāndāhādiyuktānvā dāhādirahitānmṛtān

Translation

It is declared that the body of a devotee of Śiva is itself a Liṅga, and that the face is the Liṅga—its foremost sacred aspect. This teaching applies to the departed, whether funerary rites such as cremation are performed, or even if such rites are not performed.

Word by Word
मुखम्face; mouth
मुखम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; neuter, nominative/accusative singular
लिङ्गम्liṅga; emblem
लिङ्गम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; neuter, nominative/accusative singular
इतिthus; as
इति:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)
प्रोक्तम्said; declared
प्रोक्तम्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र+वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; PPP, neuter nom/acc sg
शिवभक्तशरीरकम्the body of a devotee of Śiva
शिवभक्तशरीरकम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootशिव-भक्त-शरीरक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य भक्तस्य शरीरकम् / शिवभक्तस्य शरीरकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; neuter nom/acc sg
मृतान्dead persons
मृतान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत (कृदन्त, क्त from मृ धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; masculine accusative plural (used substantively: 'the dead')
दाहादि-युक्तान्endowed with cremation etc. (rites)
दाहादि-युक्तान्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदाह-आदि-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
Formसमास: तत्पुरुष (दाहादिभिः युक्ताः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; masculine accusative plural
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)
दाहादि-रहितान्devoid of cremation etc.
दाहादि-रहितान्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदाह-आदि-रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमास: तत्पुरुष (दाहादिभिः रहिताः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; masculine accusative plural
मृतान्dead persons
मृतान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत (कृदन्त, क्त from मृ धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; masculine accusative plural
Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes a bhakta-centered sanctity: the devotee’s body is treated as liṅga-like, implying that honoring devotees (living or deceased) yields Śiva’s grace and removes fear around death rites.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities
S
Shiva

FAQs

The verse elevates Śiva-bhakti above external conditions, teaching that a true devotee’s body is sanctified as Śiva’s emblem; thus reverence is due even after death, reflecting Shaiva Siddhānta’s emphasis on Pati’s grace purifying the paśu (soul) through devotion.

It expands Liṅga-reverence from a temple icon to the devotee’s embodied sanctity: the devotee is seen as a living seat of Saguna Śiva’s presence, with the face named as the foremost ‘Liṅga’ aspect deserving honor.

It implies respectful handling and reverent remembrance of Śiva’s devotee at death—maintaining devotion, mantra-smaraṇa (especially Śiva-nāma), and a pure, non-contemptuous attitude regardless of whether full cremation rites are possible.

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