Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

पंचवक्त्रं दशभुजं शुद्धस्फटिकसन्निभम् । सर्वाभरणसंयुक्तं व्याघ्रचर्मोत्तरीयकम्

Transliteration

paṃcavaktraṃ daśabhujaṃ śuddhasphaṭikasannibham | sarvābharaṇasaṃyuktaṃ vyāghracarmottarīyakam

Translation

Il contempla le Seigneur Śiva aux cinq visages et aux dix bras, rayonnant tel un cristal sans tache; paré de tous les ornements et portant une peau de tigre comme vêtement supérieur.

Word by Word

• पञ्चवक्त्रम्: five-faced
• पञ्चवक्त्रम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• दशभुजम्: ten-armed
• दशभुजम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुद्ध-स्फटिक-सन्निभम्: resembling pure crystal
• शुद्ध-स्फटिक-सन्निभम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + स्फटिक (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण; (शुद्धस्फटिकस्य सन्निभः)

• सर्व-आभरण-संयुक्तम्: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्व-आभरण-संयुक्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण; (सर्वैः आभरणैः संयुक्तः)

• व्याघ्र-चर्म-उत्तरीयकम्: having a tiger-skin upper garment
• व्याघ्र-चर्म-उत्तरीयकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तरीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण; (व्याघ्रचर्म एव उत्तरीयकं यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents a Saguna-dhyana (meditative) vision of Shiva: His crystal-like purity signifies stainless consciousness, while the five faces and ten arms convey His all-pervading powers governing creation and liberation under the supreme Pati (Lord) of Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

While the Linga points to Shiva’s Nirguna transcendence, this verse supports Saguna upasana—meditating on Shiva’s manifest, auspicious form—helping the devotee steady mind and devotion, which then matures into insight toward the formless reality indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-dhyana by visualizing Panchavaktra Shiva as crystal-bright and serene, and pair it with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—especially suitable for daily worship and Mahashivratri sadhana.