Shloka 19

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

नमोस्तु नीलग्रीवायेति पाद्यं मनुनाहरेत् । अर्घ्यं च रुद्र गायत्र् याऽचमनं त्र् यंबकेण च

Transliteration

namostu nīlagrīvāyeti pādyaṃ manunāharet | arghyaṃ ca rudra gāyatr yā'camanaṃ tr yaṃbakeṇa ca

Translation

Reciting the mantra “namo’stu nīlagrīvāya”—salutations to the Blue-necked Lord—one should offer pādya, water for washing the feet. With the Rudra-Gāyatrī one should offer arghya, the oblation of reverence, and with the Tryambaka mantra one should offer ācamanīya, water for ritual sipping.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; indeclinable-like usage as salutation

• अस्तु: let there be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• नीलग्रीवाय: to the blue-necked (Śiva)
• नीलग्रीवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीलग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक: नील + ग्रीव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; Dative singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय; quotative particle

• पाद्यम्: water for washing the feet
• पाद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• मनुना: with the mantra / by Manu-mantra
• मनुना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• हरेत्: should offer / bring
• हरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (respectful offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• रुद्रगायत्र्या: with the Rudra-Gāyatrī (mantra)
• रुद्रगायत्र्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्रगायत्री (प्रातिपदिक: रुद्र + गायत्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• आचमनम्: sipping (ritual water)
• आचमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• त्र्यम्बकेण: with (the mantra/name) Tryambaka
• त्र्यम्बकेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यम्बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that external worship becomes inwardly purifying when each offering is sanctified by mantra—approaching Pati (Śiva) with devotion and reverence so the mind is aligned to grace (anugraha) and liberation-oriented worship.

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

The verse gives mantra-specific upacāras used in Linga/Saguna Śiva-pūjā: pādya, arghya, and ācamanīya. By invoking Nīlagrīva and Tryambaka, the devotee worships Śiva in a personal, accessible form while remembering His transcendent supremacy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-pūjā by offering (1) pādya with “namo'stu nīlagrīvāya,” (2) arghya with the Rudra-Gāyatrī, and (3) ācamanīya with the Tryambaka mantra—using mantra-japa as the meditative core of the offerings.