Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

तदर्वागावृतं लिंगं तदूर्ध्वं हि निरावृति । तदर्वाक्कल्पितं लिंगं तदूर्ध्वं वै न कल्पितम्

Transliteration

tadarvāgāvṛtaṃ liṃgaṃ tadūrdhvaṃ hi nirāvṛti | tadarvākkalpitaṃ liṃgaṃ tadūrdhvaṃ vai na kalpitam

Translation

Below, the Liṅga is to be kept covered; above, it is indeed to remain uncovered. The lower portion is a formed and measured Liṅga, whereas the upper portion is truly unformed—beyond human fabrication.

Word by Word

• तत्-अर्वाक्-आवृतम्: (that which is) covered below
• तत्-अर्वाक्-आवृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘covered’; तत्पुरुष: ‘below that’ + ‘covered’

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: above that
• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): ‘above that’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• निरावृतिः: (is) uncovered / without covering
• निरावृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरावृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (अर्थे ‘uncoveredness’)

• तत्-अर्वाक्-कल्पितम्: constructed below
• तत्-अर्वाक्-कल्पितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + कल्पित (कृदन्त; √कॢप् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘constructed/imagined’; तत्पुरुष: ‘below that’ + ‘constructed’

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: above that
• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): ‘above that’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• कल्पितम्: constructed/imagined
• कल्पितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पित (कृदन्त; √कॢप् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-worship teachings to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the worshipable, formed aspect of the Liṅga (accessible to the devotee) from the transcendent reality of Śiva that is beyond fabrication—pointing to Saguna worship as a doorway to realization of the Nirguna, the unconditioned Pati.

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

It teaches that ritual form and sacred iconography have a legitimate place (the ‘constructed’ portion), while also reminding the worshipper that Śiva’s true nature surpasses all form (the ‘not-constructed’ upper reality), preventing mere idol-fixation and guiding devotion toward inner liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain reverent discipline in Liṅga-pūjā—covering the lower portion as prescribed while honoring the upper as uncovered—and contemplate during japa (especially ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) that the visible form is a support for meditation on Śiva who is beyond all limiting constructions.