Shloka 32

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya

The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga

Devanagari script

द्विखंडं स्थावरं लिंगं कर्तव्यं हि विधानतः । अखंडं जंगमं प्रोक्तंश् ऐवसिद्धान्तवेदिभिः

Transliteration

dvikhaṃḍaṃ sthāvaraṃ liṃgaṃ kartavyaṃ hi vidhānataḥ | akhaṃḍaṃ jaṃgamaṃ proktaṃś aivasiddhāntavedibhiḥ

Translation

According to the prescribed rule, the immovable (sthāvara) Liṅga is to be fashioned in two parts; but the movable (jaṅgama) Liṅga is declared by the knowers of the Siddhānta to be single, unbroken, and undivided (akhaṇḍa).

Word by Word

• द्वि-खण्डम्: two-part
• द्वि-खण्डम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• स्थावरम्: immovable
• स्थावरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthāvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: should be made
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (particle)

• विधानतः: according to prescription
• विधानतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘according to rule/prescription’

• अखण्डम्: unbroken
• अखण्डम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जङ्गमम्: movable
• जङ्गमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√vac (धातु) + ta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘is declared’

• शैव-सिद्धान्त-वेदिभिः: by the knowers of the Śaiva Siddhānta
• शैव-सिद्धान्त-वेदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhānta (प्रातिपदिक) + vedi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शैवस्य सिद्धान्तस्य वेदिभिः = knowers of Śaiva doctrine)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Normative Siddhānta rule: sthāvara liṅga must be dvikhaṇḍa (liṅga + pīṭha), jaṅgama/cara must be akhaṇḍa (single-piece).

Significance: Highlights orthopraxy: correct icon-form is part of dharma; adherence is said to align worship with Siddhānta authority (āgama-prāmāṇya).

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Siddhanta

FAQs

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

It distinguishes two valid modes of approaching Śiva through the Liṅga—fixed (temple/installed) and movable (personal/portable)—showing that devotion must be joined with correct form and discipline (vidhi) as upheld in Śaiva Siddhānta.

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

The Liṅga is a Saguna support for worship: a fixed Liṅga is ritually established and therefore made in a two-part construction, while a movable Liṅga used for daily personal worship is kept as a single, unbroken form to preserve its integrity and suitability for handling.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies following proper injunctions for Liṅga-pūjā—using a correctly made/installed Liṅga, worshipping with mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and maintaining purity and steadiness in daily practice.