Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

सकलं च तथा बेरं पूजायां लोकसंमतम् । शिवान्येषां च जीवत्वात्सकलत्वाच्च सर्वतः

Transliteration

sakalaṃ ca tathā beraṃ pūjāyāṃ lokasaṃmatam | śivānyeṣāṃ ca jīvatvātsakalatvācca sarvataḥ

Translation

In worship, both the Sakala (manifest, embodied form) and the Bera (the consecrated icon) are accepted by the world. For Śiva and the other deities bear a living presence, and, being fully manifest in every way, are accessible to devotion.

Word by Word

• sakalaṃ: the complete (form)
• sakalaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• beraṃ: the icon/image (bera)
• beraṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• pūjāyām: in worship
• pūjāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (feminine, locative singular)

• loka-saṃmatam: approved by the people/world
• loka-saṃmatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃmata (कृदन्त; सम्+√मन्/√मन्?; 'approved')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: लोकस्य संमतम्); (neuter nom/acc sg; 'approved by the world')

• śiva-anyēṣām: of Śiva and others
• śiva-anyēṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: शिवाश्च अन्ये च = 'Śiva and others'); (masc gen pl)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• jīvatvāt: because of being living/ensouled
• jīvatvāt: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvatva (प्रातिपदिक; भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; (neuter, ablative singular)

• sakalatvāt: because of completeness
• sakalatvāt: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakalatva (प्रातिपदिक; भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; (neuter, ablative singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• sarvataḥ: in every way/from all sides
• sarvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (indeclinable: 'from all sides/in every way')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that Śiva’s grace is approachable through manifest modes of worship—embodied (sakala) and consecrated icon (bera)—because divine presence can be truly invoked and experienced by devotees.

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

It supports saguna-upāsanā: Śiva may be worshiped as a visible, consecrated form (including the liṅga or an icon), since such forms are accepted in tradition as valid supports for devotion and realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular pūjā with a properly consecrated form (liṅga or bera), cultivating bhakti and presence-awareness; accompany worship with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) where appropriate.