Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

शिवस्य लिंगं बेरं च दर्शने दृश्यते खलु । सनत्कुमार उवाच । उक्तं त्वया महाभाग लिंगबेरप्रचारणम्

Transliteration

śivasya liṃgaṃ beraṃ ca darśane dṛśyate khalu | sanatkumāra uvāca | uktaṃ tvayā mahābhāga liṃgaberapracāraṇam

Translation

In the vision of worship, Śiva’s Liṅga (the aniconic emblem) and the Bera (the iconic image) are indeed both beheld. Sanatkumāra said: “O noble one, you have explained the propagation and practice of worship through the Liṅga and the Bera.”

Word by Word

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; (masculine, genitive singular)

• liṅgam: liṅga (emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (neuter nom/acc sg)

• beraṃ: icon/image
• beraṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (neuter nom/acc sg)

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

• darśane: in seeing/at the sight
• darśane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (neuter, locative singular)

• dṛśyate: is seen/appears
• dṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'is seen'

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; (masc nom sg)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (he said)

• uktam: spoken
• uktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (neuter nom/acc sg): 'said/spoken'

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया? (actually तृतीया 3), एकवचन; (instrumental singular): 'by you'

• mahā-bhāga: O greatly fortunate one
• mahā-bhāga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; (masc voc sg)

• liṅga-bera-pracāraṇam: the propagation/teaching of liṅga and bera
• liṅga-bera-pracāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + bera (प्रातिपदिक) + pracāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: लिङ्गस्य बेरस्य च प्रचारणम्); (neuter nom/acc sg)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

The verse affirms that Shiva may be approached through both forms—Liṅga (subtle, formless-symbolic) and Bera (formful, iconic)—showing that the Lord’s grace is accessible through multiple valid modes of darśana and devotion.

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

It harmonizes Liṅga-worship (often aligned with the transcendent, nirguṇa-oriented contemplation) with Bera/mūrti-worship (saguṇa devotion), indicating that both are recognized within Shaiva practice as authentic ways to encounter Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to establish steady daily worship (nitya-pūjā) in either form—offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—without sectarian rejection of the other form.