Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

लिंगभागेष्वधोभागं बीजाख्यं कारणत्रये । चतुःषष्टिगुणैश्वर्यं बौद्धं यदणिमादिषु

Transliteration

liṃgabhāgeṣvadhobhāgaṃ bījākhyaṃ kāraṇatraye | catuḥṣaṣṭiguṇaiśvaryaṃ bauddhaṃ yadaṇimādiṣu

Translation

Parmi les divisions du Liṅga, la partie inférieure est appelée «Semence» et relève de la triade des causes. Ce principe doit être compris comme la puissance intérieure éveillée, pourvue des perfections souveraines des soixante-quatre qualités—telles aṇimā et les autres.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गभागेषु: in the parts of the liṅga
• लिङ्गभागेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (लिङ्गस्य भागाः)

• अधोभागम्: the lower part
• अधोभागम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधो (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अधः स्थितः भागः)

• बीजाख्यम्: called ‘seed’
• बीजाख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बीज इति आख्यः)

• कारणत्रये: in the triad of causes
• कारणत्रये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि कारणानि)

• चतुःषष्टिगुणैश्वर्यम्: sovereignty of sixty-four qualities
• चतुःषष्टिगुणैश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुःषष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (चतुःषष्टेः गुणानाम् ऐश्वर्यम्)

• बौद्धम्: pertaining to intellect/knowledge
• बौद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बौद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• अणिमादिषु: among aṇimā etc. (the siddhis)
• अणिमादिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अणिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अणिमा-आदीनि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It presents the Liṅga as a metaphysical map: its “Seed” aspect is linked to the causal levels of existence, pointing the devotee to Shiva as the ground of all causes and the source of awakened consciousness.

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

It supports Liṅga worship by explaining that the visible form is not merely symbolic; it corresponds to inner principles—causality and divine power—so Saguna worship becomes a doorway to realizing Shiva’s transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the Liṅga’s lower portion as the ‘Bīja’ (seed-cause) while repeating a Shiva mantra (such as the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), using the contemplation to turn attention from siddhis toward liberation-centered awakening.