Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
विश्वकर्मन्यथा शंभोः कल्पयित्वा शुभानि च । लिंगानि सर्वदेवेभ्यो देयानि वचनान्मम
viśvakarmanyathā śaṃbhoḥ kalpayitvā śubhāni ca | liṃgāni sarvadevebhyo deyāni vacanānmama
« Ô Viśvakarman, façonne des liṅga de bon augure selon la manière de Śambhu et, sur mon ordre, fais que ces liṅga soient accordés à tous les dieux. »
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Viśvakarmā is commanded to fashion auspicious liṅgas ‘in the manner of Śambhu’ and distribute them to the devas—an archetype for later kṣetra-liṅga establishments where divine prototypes are replicated for worship.
Significance: Establishes the principle that properly fashioned liṅgas, made according to divine injunction, become valid loci of Śiva’s presence and grace.
FAQs
The verse presents the liṅga as an auspicious, accessible form of Śambhu for worship, indicating that even the Devas rely on Shiva’s saguna symbol to gain grace, protection, and spiritual steadiness toward liberation.
Brahma’s instruction to craft liṅgas “in the manner of Śambhu” affirms the liṅga as a sanctioned saguna support for devotion and ritual—an embodiment that anchors the mind and directs worship to Pati (Shiva), the supreme Lord beyond all gods.
It implies establishing a Shiva liṅga and performing regular pūjā—abhisheka, offering of bilva leaves, and japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a steady devotional discipline.