Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53

लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera

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Devanagari script

विशोध्य लिंगं बेरं वा मृत्तोयाद्यैर्यथा पुरा । स्थापयेत्पुष्पसंछन्नमुत्तरस्थे वरासने

Transliteration

viśodhya liṃgaṃ beraṃ vā mṛttoyādyairyathā purā | sthāpayetpuṣpasaṃchannamuttarasthe varāsane

Translation

古来の作法のとおり、土と水など定められた手段によってリンガ、あるいは尊像（ベーラ）を浄めたのち、花で覆い、北方に据えた最上の座（アーサナ）の上に安置すべきである。

Word by Word

• viśodhya: having purified
• viśodhya: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vi-śudh/śodh (वि + शुध्/शोध् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) ‘having purified’

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• beram: the idol (bera)
• beram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘or’)

• mṛt-toya-ādyaiḥ: with clay, water, and the like
• mṛt-toya-ādyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + toya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समाहारार्थे ‘mṛttoya-ādi’ (clay, water, etc.)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘as/according to’)

• purā: as before
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘formerly/earlier’)

• sthāpayet: should install/place
• sthāpayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगार्थं (स्थापयति) causative stem

• puṣpa-saṃchannam: covered with flowers
• puṣpa-saṃchannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃchanna (कृदन्त; √chad छद् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘puṣpaiḥ saṃchannam’ (covered with flowers)

• uttara-sthe: in the northern position
• uttara-sthe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त; √sthā स्था धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘uttare sthita’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय; स्थानवाचक

• vara-āsane: on an excellent seat
• vara-āsane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘varaṃ āsanam’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: viśodhya liṃgaṃ beraṃ vā mṛttoyādyairyathā purā | sthāpayetpuṣpasaṃchannamuttarasthe varāsane

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer ritual purity—purifying the Liṅga/icon and establishing it properly—supports inner purity, making worship a fit vessel for Śiva’s grace (anugraha) in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit of disciplined devotion.

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

By explicitly allowing worship of either the Liṅga or a consecrated icon (bera), the verse affirms Saguna upāsanā—approaching the formless Pati through a sanctified form—while maintaining traditional rules of purification and installation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform purification (śodhana) with earth and water (and other customary means), then install the Liṅga on a proper āsana—traditionally aligned and honored—adorned with flowers, while sustaining reverent mantra-japa such as the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).