Shloka 35

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

नमःसेनेति मंत्रेण महामुद्रा ं प्रदर्शयेत् । दर्शयेद्धेनुमुद्रा ं च नमो गोभ्य ऋचानया

Transliteration

namaḥseneti maṃtreṇa mahāmudrā ṃ pradarśayet | darśayeddhenumudrā ṃ ca namo gobhya ṛcānayā

Translation

Reciting the mantra beginning “namaḥsena…,” one should display the Mahāmudrā. And with the Ṛk-verse “namo gobhyaḥ” (“salutations to the cows”), one should also display the Dhenumudrā.

Word by Word

• नमःसेन: “namaḥsena” (the mantra-word)
• नमःसेन: Karma (कर्म) [of ‘iti’ quotation]
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमःसेन (मन्त्र-पद/प्रातिपदिक-वत्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; quoted mantra-word (उद्धृतपद)

• इति: thus/“…”
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/quotative (उद्धरण-चिह्न)

• मन्त्रेण: by the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• महामुद्राम्: the great mudrā
• महामुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय ‘great mudrā’

• प्रदर्शयेत्: should display
• प्रदर्शयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• दर्शयेत्: should show
• दर्शयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; causative/denominative sense ‘show’

• धेनुमुद्राम्: the Dhenu-mudrā
• धेनुमुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धेनोः मुद्रा)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमः (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: Particle/interjection (नमस्कारार्थक अव्यय)

• गोभ्यः: to the cows
• गोभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural

• ऋचानया: with this ṛc (hymn)
• ऋचानया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋचा + अनया (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; sandhi compound-like sequence meaning ‘with this ṛc (hymn)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Mahāmudrā and Dhenumudrā are taught as protective/empowering seals within the Kāśī-oriented pūjā-krama; ‘namo gobhyaḥ’ invokes auspiciousness and sustenance imagery to support the rite’s completeness.

Significance: Mudrās are treated as subtle upacāras that safeguard the worship and the worshipper; the ‘cow’ motif connotes nourishment, dharma, and auspicious protection under Śiva’s lordship.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: “namaḥsena…” (for Mahāmudrā); “namo gobhyaḥ” (ṛk for Dhenumudrā)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shaiva worship is not only inner devotion but also disciplined sacred action—mantra joined with mudrā—so the devotee’s body, speech, and mind align in reverence to Pati (Shiva).

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

In Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-pūjā), specific mantras and hand-gestures accompany offerings and invocations; this verse prescribes mudrās to be shown as part of the formal ritual approach to the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Mahāmudrā while reciting the “namaḥsena…” mantra, and perform Dhenumudrā while reciting the Vedic Ṛk “namo gobhyaḥ,” integrating mantra-recitation with prescribed ritual gestures.