Shloka 25
कलौ लिंगार्चनं श्रेष्ठं तथा लोके प्रदृश्यते । तथा नास्तीति शास्त्राणामेष सिद्धान्तनिश्चयः
kalau liṃgārcanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tathā loke pradṛśyate | tathā nāstīti śāstrāṇāmeṣa siddhāntaniścayaḥ
In the Kali age, worship of the Śiva-liṅga is the highest practice, as is plainly seen in the world. To claim otherwise is not accepted; this is the settled and definitive conclusion of the śāstras.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is portrayed as the paradigmatic Kali-yuga refuge where direct Śiva-upāsanā (liṅga-arcana) is accessible to all varṇas/āśramas; the ‘siddhānta-niścaya’ tone matches Kāśī-māhātmya style proclamations of Viśveśvara’s easy grace.
Significance: Frames liṅga-arcana as the most efficacious Kali-yuga dharma—simple, repeatable, and grace-oriented—suited to diminished capacities in Kali.
Offering: dipa
Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga (yuga-dharma framing)
FAQs
It declares the scriptural siddhānta that, in Kali-yuga, accessible devotion expressed as Śiva-liṅga arcana is the most effective and elevated path for grace and liberation.
The Liṅga is the primary saguna focus through which devotees approach the transcendent (nirguṇa) Śiva; the verse affirms Liṅga worship as the clearest, most sanctioned practice for this age.
Regular Liṅga arcana—such as offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—is implied as the recommended Kali-yuga sādhana.