Shloka 13

Liṅga–Bera Pūjā: Nitya-Arcana and Upacāras as an Accessible Sādhana (लिङ्गबेरपूजा-विधानम्)

Devanagari script

अपि लिंगे च बेरे च नित्यमभ्यर्च्यते जनैः । अब्रह्मत्वात्तदन्येषां निष्कलत्वं न हि क्वचित्

Transliteration

api liṃge ca bere ca nityamabhyarcyate janaiḥ | abrahmatvāttadanyeṣāṃ niṣkalatvaṃ na hi kvacit

Translation

People daily worship (Śiva) in the Liṅga and also in the consecrated image (bera). But for others—because they are not Brahman, the Supreme Reality—the state of being niṣkala (partless) is never truly applicable at any time.

Word by Word

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘also/even’

• liṅge: in the liṅga
• liṅge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय) ‘and’

• bere: in the idol/image (bera)
• bere: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय) ‘and’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as avyaya (नित्यं) ‘always’

• abhyarcyate: is worshipped
• abhyarcyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-arc (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• janaiḥ: by people
• janaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• a-brahmatvāt: because of not being Brahman
• a-brahmatvāt: Hetu (हेतुः/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + brahmatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; negated abstract noun ‘non-brahman-ness’

• tad-anyeṣām: of others than that (i.e., others)
• tad-anyeṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (tad-anya = ‘other than that’)

• niṣkalatvam: formlessness/partlessness
• niṣkalatvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣkalatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; here subject (‘partlessness’)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध निपात)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात) ‘indeed’

• kvacit: ever
• kvacit: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) ‘ever/anywhere/at any time’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a single jyotirliṅga legend; rather, a normative claim: daily worship is properly directed to Śiva in both liṅga and bēra because only He is Brahman in the fullest sense; other deities do not possess niṣkala absoluteness.

Significance: Encourages nitya-pūjā (daily worship) and steadies sectarian focus: the devotee seeks the highest refuge (Pati) rather than treating all deities as equally absolute in niṣkala sense.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva’s unique status as the Supreme (Brahman) who can be worshipped both as niṣkala (transcendent, partless) and as sakala through accessible forms like the Liṅga and bera, guiding devotees from ritual devotion toward liberation-oriented realization.

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

The verse legitimizes daily worship in both the Liṅga and the consecrated icon, teaching that Śiva’s worshipped forms are not mere symbols but valid gateways to the Supreme—whereas “partlessness” (niṣkala) is not ultimately attributable to non-supreme beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain nitya-pūjā (daily worship) of the Śiva Liṅga or bera with archana/abhiṣeka while contemplating Śiva as niṣkala beyond all attributes; japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) naturally complements this practice.