Shloka 53

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

रात्रावुदण्मुखः कुर्याद्देवकार्यं सदैव हि । शिवार्चनं सदाप्येवं शुचिः कुर्यादुदण्मुखः

Transliteration

rātrāvudaṇmukhaḥ kuryāddevakāryaṃ sadaiva hi | śivārcanaṃ sadāpyevaṃ śuciḥ kuryādudaṇmukhaḥ

Translation

At night, one should always perform divine rites facing north. In the same way, the worship of Śiva should ever be performed—pure and disciplined—facing north.

Word by Word

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.)

• उदङ्मुखः: facing north
• उदङ्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udak (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण; तत्पुरुष: ‘उदक् (उत्तर) दिशि मुखं यस्य’ (north-facing)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• देवकार्यं: divine/ritual duty
• देवकार्यं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देवानां कार्यम्’

• सदैव: always
• सदैव: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय) + eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial phrase)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/indeed)

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

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; also/even)

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• शुचिः: pure/clean
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• उदङ्मुखः: facing north
• उदङ्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udak (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण; तत्पुरुष: ‘उत्तराभिमुखः’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-worship injunctions to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Directional injunction (north-facing at night) aligns the devotee’s bodily orientation with sacred space; in Kāśī liturgical imagination, such niyamas stabilize worship and sustain continuity (sthiti) of daily Śiva-arcana.

Significance: Observing niyama (śauca + dik-niyama) is taught as strengthening the efficacy of arcana and guarding against ritual faults; north-facing night worship is a discipline for steadiness and purity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-arcana is not casual but a disciplined sādhanā: purity of body-mind and mindful orientation (facing north at night) support steadiness, reverence, and focused devotion toward Pati (Śiva), aiding inner clarity on the path to liberation.

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

It functions as a practical injunction for Saguna worship—especially Linga-pūjā—by prescribing the devotee’s posture and direction at night, reinforcing that external order (ācāra) should accompany inner devotion (bhāva) in Śiva’s worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform night-time deva-kārya and Śiva-pūjā while facing north, maintaining śauca (cleanliness). This can include north-facing japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and orderly worship with a purified, attentive mind.