Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

शिवाय शिवकार्याथे कृत्वा शिवपदं लभेत् । शिवक्षेत्रे तथा वासं नित्यं कुर्याच्च भक्तितः

Transliteration

śivāya śivakāryāthe kṛtvā śivapadaṃ labhet | śivakṣetre tathā vāsaṃ nityaṃ kuryācca bhaktitaḥ

Translation

En accomplissant des œuvres pour Śiva, pour Śiva seul, on obtient l’état (la demeure) de Śiva. De même, avec dévotion, qu’on réside toujours dans un Śiva-kṣetra, un lieu saint de Śiva.

Word by Word

• शिवाय: for Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिव-कार्य-अर्थे: for the purpose of Śiva’s work/service
• शिव-कार्य-अर्थे: Prayojana/Hetu (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular); अर्थे = ‘for the purpose’ sense

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having done’

• शिव-पदम्: Śiva’s state/abode
• शिव-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• लभेत्: would attain
• लभेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिव-क्षेत्रे: in Śiva’s sacred place
• शिव-क्षेत्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• वासम्: dwelling/residence
• वासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययप्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भक्तितः: out of devotion
• भक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (Singular); हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Śiva-kṣetra residence is praised as a direct support for liberation: living in Kāśī/Viśveśvara’s sphere, serving Śiva, and maintaining bhakti is portrayed as a powerful context for Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage not merely as visit but as ‘vāsa’ (dwelling) and ‘kārya’ (service): sustained proximity to Śiva-kṣetra and selfless work for Śiva mature the soul toward Śivapada.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation in Śaiva Siddhānta is supported by devoted service (śiva-kārya) and sustained bhakti, culminating in attaining Śivapada—nearness to and participation in Śiva’s auspicious state.

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

Serving Śiva’s cause includes temple and Liṅga-centered worship—maintaining purity, offerings, and dharmic acts done as Śiva-sevā—through which devotion matures toward Śiva’s grace and realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily bhakti expressed as Śiva-sevā: regular Liṅga-pūjā in a Śiva-kṣetra when possible, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and disciplined sacred living as an offering to Śiva.