Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 10

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

आदौ विमानं शिल्पेन कार्यं देवगणैर्युतम् । तत्र गर्भगृहे रम्ये दृढे दर्पणसंनिभे

Transliteration

ādau vimānaṃ śilpena kāryaṃ devagaṇairyutam | tatra garbhagṛhe ramye dṛḍhe darpaṇasaṃnibhe

Translation

D’abord, le vimāna (la superstructure du temple) doit être façonné selon la science sacrée de l’architecture, orné des cohortes divines. En son sein, dans le beau garbha‑gṛha (sanctuaire), solidement bâti et brillant comme un miroir, doit être établie la présence vénérable de Śiva.

Word by Word

• ādau: at first/in the beginning
• ādau: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् (adverbial use of locative); सप्तमी-एकवचन used adverbially

• vimānam: a vimāna/temple-structure
• vimānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śilpena: by craftsmanship/architecture
• śilpena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• kāryam: to be made/should be made
• kāryam: Kriyā (क्रिया) — predicative necessity
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kārya (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/णीयत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय: ‘to be made’

• deva-gaṇaiḥ: with groups of gods
• deva-gaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / Sahakārī (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘devānāṃ gaṇāḥ’

• yutam: joined/associated
• yutam: Karma (कर्म) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) → yuta (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; vimānam-विशेषण

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• garbha-gṛhe: in the sanctum (garbhagṛha)
• garbha-gṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘garbhasya gṛhe’ (inner sanctum)

• ramye: beautiful
• ramye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; garbha-gṛhe-विशेषण

• dṛḍhe: firm/strong
• dṛḍhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; garbha-gṛhe-विशेषण

• darpaṇa-saṃnibhe: resembling a mirror
• darpaṇa-saṃnibhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: darpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃnibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘darpaṇavat saṃnibha’ (mirror-like)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse gives a general āgama-aligned prescription for constructing the vimāna and garbhagṛha for Śiva’s presence; in the Viśveśvara frame it naturally evokes Kāśī Viśvanātha where the Lord is established as the inner ‘resident’ of the sanctum.

Significance: Merit of establishing/serving the Lord in a properly consecrated shrine; supports dharma and becomes a locus for anugraha through daily darśana and pūjā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-worship is supported by outer purity and inner sanctity: a properly built, stable, radiant garbha-gṛha symbolizes a mind made steady and clear for the Lord’s presence (Pati) to be realized.

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

The verse prepares the setting for Saguna Śiva worship through the Liṅga—establishing a consecrated sanctum where the Liṅga may be installed and served with prescribed upacāras, allowing devotees to approach the formless through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Ritually, it implies śuddhi (purification) and careful consecration before installation; meditatively, the “mirror-like” sanctum points to making the heart-mind polished through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined purity before worship.