Shloka 52

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

ततः प्रदक्षिणां कृत्वा नत्वा लिंगं विसर्जयेत् । इति प्रोक्तमशेषं च शिवपूजनमादरात्

Transliteration

tataḥ pradakṣiṇāṃ kṛtvā natvā liṃgaṃ visarjayet | iti proktamaśeṣaṃ ca śivapūjanamādarāt

Translation

Then, having performed circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā) and bowed down, one should reverently take leave of the Śiva-liṅga, thus concluding the rite. In this manner, the worship of Śiva has been taught in full, to be performed with devoted care.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• प्रदक्षिणाम्: circumambulation
• प्रदक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having done’

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having bowed’

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/leave (it)
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: visṛj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• प्रोक्तम्: has been stated/said
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• अशेषम्: entire/without remainder
• अशेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (qualifier)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिवपूजनम्: worship of Śiva
• शिवपूजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘शिवस्य पूजनम्’

• आदरात्: out of reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Abl. 5), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Concluding rite (visarjana) after pradakṣiṇā and namaskāra reflects Kāśī-style completeness of liṅga-pūjā: the Lord is ever-present, yet the ritual ‘dismissal’ marks the devotee’s disciplined closure and return to dharma.

Significance: Pradakṣiṇā and namaskāra seal the merit of worship; visarjana prevents ritual incompleteness (apacāra) and cultivates humility before Viśveśvara.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not only by offerings but by humble surrender—circumambulation and bowing—followed by a respectful ritual conclusion, affirming disciplined bhakti toward Pati (Śiva).

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

The liṅga is approached as Saguna Śiva for worship; pradakṣiṇā and namaskāra express reverence to the living presence of Śiva, and visarjana marks the formal completion of the deity-invocation and the rite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform clockwise pradakṣiṇā, offer namaskāra/prostration, and then do visarjana (a conscious, respectful closing prayer). This is typically accompanied by remembrance of the Panchākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” even if not stated explicitly.