Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

स्फीटिकं पीठिकोपेतं पूजयेद्विधिवत्क्रमात् । प्रतिष्ठाप्य विधानेन तल्लिंगं कृतशोधनम्

Transliteration

sphīṭikaṃ pīṭhikopetaṃ pūjayedvidhivatkramāt | pratiṣṭhāpya vidhānena talliṃgaṃ kṛtaśodhanam

Translation

定められた次第に従い、台座を備えた水晶のリンガを、正しい作法のままに礼拝せよ。しかるのち、浄め終えたそのリンガを規定の法によって安置し、供養を進めるべし。

Word by Word

• sphīṭikam: crystal (quartz)
• sphīṭikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sphīṭika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• pīṭhikā-upetam: provided with a pedestal
• pīṭhikā-upetam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīṭhikā-upeta (प्रातिपदिक; upeta as PPP)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: pīṭhikā + upeta (‘endowed with a pedestal’); upeta = PPP (क्त) from √i (धातु) with upa-

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidhivat: according to prescribed rule
• vidhivat: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi-vat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) = ‘according to rule’; taddhita -vat forming indeclinable usage

• kramāt: in sequence; step by step
• kramāt: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial ablative ‘in due order’

• pratiṣṭhāpya: having installed
• pratiṣṭhāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य), ‘having installed/established’

• vidhānena: by the procedure/rite
• vidhānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat-liṅgam: that liṅga
• tat-liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (determinative): ‘that liṅga’

• kṛta-śodhanam: purified (having purification done)
• kṛta-śodhanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + śodhana (प्रातिपदिक; kṛta as PPP)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: kṛta (‘done’) + śodhana (‘purification’) = ‘purified’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion (bhakti) must be supported by śuddhi (purity) and vidhi (right method): when the Liṅga is purified, duly installed, and worshipped in sequence, the sādhaka aligns action and intention toward Pati (Śiva), loosening pāśa (bondage).

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

The crystal Liṅga is a saguna focus for worship—an accessible, consecrated form through which the devotee offers reverence to Śiva. The verse highlights pratiṣṭhā (installation) and pūjā-krama (ordered worship), showing that the form becomes ritually fit to receive offerings after śodhana and proper establishment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform śodhana (purificatory cleansing), then pratiṣṭhā (consecrated installation) of the Liṅga on its pīṭhikā, followed by orderly pūjā (upacāras). In practice, this is commonly paired with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during worship.