Shloka 49

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

ईशानं नंदिनं चंडं महाकालं च भृंगिणम् । वृषं स्कंदं कपर्दीशं सोमं शुक्रं च तत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

īśānaṃ naṃdinaṃ caṃḍaṃ mahākālaṃ ca bhṛṃgiṇam | vṛṣaṃ skaṃdaṃ kapardīśaṃ somaṃ śukraṃ ca tatkramāt

Translation

In that very order, one should remember and worship Īśāna, Nandin, Caṇḍa, Mahākāla, and Bhṛṅgin; then Vṛṣa, Skanda, Kapardīśa, Soma, and Śukra.

Word by Word

• īśānam: Īśāna
• īśānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• nandinam: Nandin
• nandinam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• caṇḍam: Caṇḍa
• caṇḍam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• mahākālam: Mahākāla
• mahākālam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारयः (descriptive); पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• bhṛṅgiṇam: Bhṛṅgin
• bhṛṅgiṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛṅgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• vṛṣam: Vṛṣa (the Bull)
• vṛṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• skandam: Skanda
• skandam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• kapardīśam: Kapardīśa
• kapardīśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुषः; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• somam: Soma
• somam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• śukram: Śukra
• śukram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• tat-kramāt: in that sequence
• tat-kramāt: Prakāra (प्रकार/according to order)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; 'क्रमात्' इति पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative) एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्—'in that order/accordingly'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Within the Viśveśvara-kṣetra framing, the verse functions as an aṅga of Kashi-style liṅga-pūjā: remembrance of Śiva’s sovereign Īśāna-aspect and his parivāra (Nandin, Bhṛṅgin, etc.) as protective and empowering attendants around the Lord of the place.

Significance: Smaraṇa and pūjā of Viśveśvara with parivāra is taught as a complete, orderly upacāra leading to śuddhi, rakṣā, and readiness for mantra-japa and stuti.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana
• Nandi
• Chanda
• Mahakala
• Bhringi
• Vrisha
• Skanda
• Kapardisha
• Soma
• Shukra

FAQs

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

The verse teaches ordered remembrance (krama-smaraṇa) of Shiva along with his key forms and attendants, affirming a Shaiva Siddhanta approach where devotion to Saguna Shiva and his śakti-filled retinue steadies the mind and purifies the soul toward Shiva’s grace.

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

In Linga worship, devotees commonly invoke Shiva’s names and his gaṇas as protective, grace-bearing presences around the Linga; this verse provides a traditional sequence of such invocations, keeping the focus on Shiva as the supreme Pati while honoring his manifested forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use this as a nāma-smaraṇa list: recite these names in order during Linga-pūjā or japa, mentally visualizing Shiva (Mahākāla, Īśāna, Kapardīśa) and his attendants (Nandin, Bhṛṅgin) as guardians of the sādhaka; it pairs naturally with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Tripuṇḍra/bhasma observance.