Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 62

लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera

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Devanagari script

संधानयोग्यं संधाय प्रतिष्ठाविधिमाचरेत् । बेराद्वा विकलाल्लिंगाद्देवपूजापुरस्सरम्

Transliteration

saṃdhānayogyaṃ saṃdhāya pratiṣṭhāvidhimācaret | berādvā vikalālliṃgāddevapūjāpurassaram

Translation

Après avoir assemblé comme il convient ce qui doit l’être, on doit accomplir le rite de consécration (pratiṣṭhā). Qu’il s’agisse d’une image (bera) ou d’un liṅga incomplet, la procédure doit être menée en précédant de l’adoration du Deva (Śiva), comme condition requise.

Word by Word

• संधानयोग्यम्: fit for joining/installation
• संधानयोग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संधान + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (संधानाय योग्यः)

• संधाय: having joined/assembled
• संधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having joined/placed’; उपसर्ग: सम्

• प्रतिष्ठाविधिम्: the rite/procedure of consecration
• प्रतिष्ठाविधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रतिष्ठायाः विधिः)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• बेरात्: from the idol (bera)
• बेरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुं), पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे ‘from the image/idol’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Alternative (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• विकलात्: from defect/impairment
• विकलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘from (a state of) defect/incompleteness’

• लिङ्गात्: from the liṅga
• लिङ्गात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘from the liṅga’

• देवपूजापुरस्सरम्: preceded by worship of the deity
• देवपूजापुरस्सरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवपूजा + पुरस्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवपूजया पुरस्सरम् = preceded by worship of the deity)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse belongs to an Āgama-like ritual-technical section on assembling and installing a liṅga/bera, emphasizing correct saṃdhāna (joining) and prior devapūjā as prerequisite to pratiṣṭhā.

Significance: General temple-pratiṣṭhā teaching: correct installation and prior worship are said to stabilize the deity’s presence and the merit of subsequent pūjā for the community.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred forms meant for worship—especially the liṅga—must be established through proper consecration, with Śiva-pūjā as the essential first act, affirming reverence and ritual purity in approaching Pati (Śiva).

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

It addresses Saguna worship through tangible supports—liṅga or icon (bera)—and states that once properly prepared/assembled, they become fit for installation, provided the process is preceded by formal worship of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform Śiva-pūjā as the preliminary rite before pratiṣṭhā (installation/consecration) of a liṅga or image; the verse is ritual-focused rather than prescribing mantra, bhasma, or rudrākṣa specifically.