Shloka 55
Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya
Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification
कृतेध्यानाज्ज्ञानसिद्धिस्त्रेतायां तपसा तथा । द्वापरे यजनाज्ज्ञानं प्रतिमापूजया कलौ
kṛtedhyānājjñānasiddhistretāyāṃ tapasā tathā | dvāpare yajanājjñānaṃ pratimāpūjayā kalau
Dans le Yuga Kṛta, l’accomplissement de la connaissance spirituelle s’obtient par la méditation ; dans le Yuga Tretā, de même par l’austérité. Dans le Yuga Dvāpara, la connaissance se gagne par le yajña, le sacrifice rituel ; et dans le Yuga Kali, elle se gagne par le culte de l’image sacrée (pratimā) du Seigneur.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse gives a yuga-wise upāya (means) for jñāna—dhyāna/tapas/yajña/pratimā-pūjā—framing Kali-yuga accessibility through icon/arcā worship.
Significance: Establishes pratimā/arcā worship as a valid Kali-yuga means to jñāna, encouraging temple-based devotion as a direct soteriological aid.
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: Yuga-cycle pedagogy: Kṛta–Tretā–Dvāpara–Kali delineation of dominant sādhanā.
FAQs
It teaches that the primary discipline for realizing liberating knowledge changes by yuga: meditation in Kṛta, austerity in Tretā, yajña in Dvāpara, and accessible devotional worship in Kali—showing Śiva’s compassion in providing an attainable path suited to the age.
By affirming pratimā-pūjā in Kali Yuga, it supports Saguna worship—such as Śiva-liṅga worship—as a valid and powerful means to purify the soul (paśu), loosen bonds (pāśa), and lead toward the knowledge of Pati (Śiva).
For Kali Yuga, the takeaway is regular Śiva pratimā/Śivaliṅga pūjā with devotion—supported by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple, sincere offerings as one’s capacity allows.