Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

पार्श्वयोर्देवदेवस्य नंदीशं तु समर्चयेत् । गंधैर्धूपैस्तथा दीपैर्विविधैः पूजयेच्छिवम्

Transliteration

pārśvayordevadevasya naṃdīśaṃ tu samarcayet | gaṃdhairdhūpaistathā dīpairvividhaiḥ pūjayecchivam

Translation

諸天の主たるシヴァの左右に、ナンディーシャをしかるべく供養すべし。さらに香気、薫香、灯明など種々の供物をもってシヴァを礼拝する。

Word by Word

• pārśvayoḥ: on (both) sides
• pārśvayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Dvivacana (dual)

• deva-devasya: of the God of gods
• deva-devasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (देवानां देवः)

• naṃdīśam: Nandīśa (Nandin)
• naṃdīśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naṃdīśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• tu: indeed/and then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Viśeṣa/avadhāraṇa-avyaya (तु/ but/ indeed)

• sam-arcayet: should worship properly
• sam-arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• gandhaiḥ: with fragrances
• gandhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• dhūpaiḥ: with incense
• dhūpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (also/ likewise)

• dīpaiḥ: with lamps
• dīpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘gandhaiḥ/dhūpaiḥ/dīpaiḥ’ (collectively)

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that devotion to Shiva is expressed through orderly, reverent worship (upacāras) and that honouring Nandī—Shiva’s foremost attendant and gatekeeper—supports the devotee’s approach to the Lord with humility and right orientation in bhakti.

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

In Saguna worship (including Liṅga-pūjā), offerings like gandha, dhūpa, and dīpa are standard upacāras. Placing attention on Nandī at Shiva’s side reflects the traditional Shiva-temple arrangement and reinforces the devotional pathway of approaching the manifest Lord through His sacred entourage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-pūjā with fragrance, incense, and a lamp, and include respectful worship of Nandī before or alongside the main offering. While not stated here, this is commonly paired with silent japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during dīpa and dhūpa offerings.