Shloka 48

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

पूजयेत्परिवारं च ततः शंभोः सुभक्तितः । ईशानादिक्रमात्तत्र चंदनाक्षतपत्रकैः

Transliteration

pūjayetparivāraṃ ca tataḥ śaṃbhoḥ subhaktitaḥ | īśānādikramāttatra caṃdanākṣatapatrakaiḥ

Translation

Then, with sincere devotion, one should worship the attendant deities of Lord Śambhu. In that worship, proceed in order beginning with Īśāna, offering sandal paste, akṣata (unbroken rice), and sacred leaves.

Word by Word

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: विधेय/क्रिया (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• परिवारम्: the retinue; attendants
• परिवारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अनन्तरता-वाचक (adverb: thereafter/from that)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• सुभक्तितः: through good devotion; out of devotion
• सुभक्तितः: हेतु/निमित्त (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः ‘-तः’ (from/through); कर्मधारय (सु-भक्तिः)

• ईशानादि-क्रमात्: according to the sequence beginning with Īśāna
• ईशानादि-क्रमात्: क्रम/पद्धति-निर्देश (manner/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान + आदि + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ईशानादीनां क्रमः, तस्मात्)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• चन्दन-अक्षत-पत्रकैः: with sandalwood, unbroken rice, and leaves
• चन्दन-अक्षत-पत्रकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन + अक्षत + पत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (चन्दनं च अक्षतं च पत्रकाणि च)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī-viśeṣa worship is typically expanded through āvaraṇa/pariṣada-devatā pūjā; beginning with Īśāna indicates a directional/face-based krama (Īśāna etc.) consistent with Śaiva liturgical ordering around the liṅga.

Significance: Teaches complete worship: not only the liṅga but also Śiva’s parivāra and directional aspects; fosters ritual wholeness (pūrṇatā) and steadiness of devotion.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Śiva-worship is not isolated ritualism: honoring Śambhu’s parivāra in an ordered, devotional way expresses reverence for Śiva’s complete sacred presence and supports steadiness (bhakti) in the sādhaka.

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

In Saguna worship, the Liṅga is adored along with Śiva’s divine directions/forms (beginning with Īśāna) and attendants; this completes the pūjā framework so the devotee approaches Śiva as the Lord-with-manifest attributes who graciously receives offerings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pūjā sequentially (starting with Īśāna), offering candana, akṣata, and leaf-offerings (commonly bilva), while maintaining focused devotion—optionally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).