Shloka 9

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

संशोध्य च जलेनापि पिंडीकृत्य शनैः शनैः । विधीयेत शुभं लिंगं पार्थिवं वेदमार्गतः

Transliteration

saṃśodhya ca jalenāpi piṃḍīkṛtya śanaiḥ śanaiḥ | vidhīyeta śubhaṃ liṃgaṃ pārthivaṃ vedamārgataḥ

Translation

After cleansing it with water and slowly kneading it into a firm lump, one should fashion an auspicious earthen Liṅga in accordance with the Vedic procedure.

Word by Word

• संशोध्य: having purified
• संशोध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-शुध्/शोध् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund); उपसर्ग ‘सम्-’

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

• जलेन: with water
• जलेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयबोधक निपात (also/even)

• पिण्डीकृत्य: having made into a lump
• पिण्डीकृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पिण्डी-कृ (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund); नामधातु/कृदन्त-समासभाव: ‘पिण्डं कृत्वा’

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Karana (करण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शनैः: gradually
• शनैः: Karana (करण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

• विधीयेत: should be made/formed
• विधीयेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘लिङ्गम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पार्थिवम्: made of earth
• पार्थिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘लिङ्गम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वेदमार्गतः: according to the Vedic procedure
• वेदमार्गतः: Karana (करण/According to)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेदमार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘वेदमार्गात्’ = according to the Vedic path

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva-worship procedures to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s ritual culture foregrounds Veda-mārga and kṣetra-vidhi; the verse explicitly anchors the earthen liṅga in ‘Vedic procedure’ (veda-mārgataḥ), resonant with Kāśī’s identity as a Vedic-Śaiva hub.

Significance: Stresses śodhana (purification) and krama (gradual, careful formation), teaching that liberation-oriented worship begins with disciplined saṃskāra of matter—transforming pāśa-associated elements into instruments of upāsanā.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion must be joined with purity and right method: by cleansing, patiently preparing, and shaping the earthen Liṅga, the devotee approaches Śiva (Pati) through disciplined, sanctified action that refines the mind toward grace and liberation.

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

The pārthiva (earthen) Liṅga is a Saguna support for worship—an accessible sacred form through which the devotee can offer reverence, concentrate awareness, and invoke Śiva’s presence while following scriptural (Vedic) injunctions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates a practical upāsanā: purify the clay with water, knead it slowly and mindfully, and then form the Liṅga according to śāstra—ideally accompanied by steady japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a focused, reverent mind.