Shloka 25
Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna
Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship
कलौ लिंगार्चनं श्रेष्ठं तथा लोके प्रदृश्यते । तथा नास्तीति शास्त्राणामेष सिद्धान्तनिश्चयः
kalau liṃgārcanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tathā loke pradṛśyate | tathā nāstīti śāstrāṇāmeṣa siddhāntaniścayaḥ
ಕಲಿಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿವಲಿಂಗಾರ್ಚನೆಯೇ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಸಾಧನೆ—ಇದು ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾದುದು ಅಂಗೀಕಾರಾರ್ಹವಲ್ಲ; ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳ ಸ್ಥಿರ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ-ನಿಶ್ಚಯ ಇದೇ.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is portrayed as the paradigmatic Kali-yuga refuge where direct Śiva-upāsanā (liṅga-arcana) is accessible to all varṇas/āśramas; the ‘siddhānta-niścaya’ tone matches Kāśī-māhātmya style proclamations of Viśveśvara’s easy grace.
Significance: Frames liṅga-arcana as the most efficacious Kali-yuga dharma—simple, repeatable, and grace-oriented—suited to diminished capacities in Kali.
Offering: dipa
Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga (yuga-dharma framing)
FAQs
It declares the scriptural siddhānta that, in Kali-yuga, accessible devotion expressed as Śiva-liṅga arcana is the most effective and elevated path for grace and liberation.
The Liṅga is the primary saguna focus through which devotees approach the transcendent (nirguṇa) Śiva; the verse affirms Liṅga worship as the clearest, most sanctioned practice for this age.
Regular Liṅga arcana—such as offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—is implied as the recommended Kali-yuga sādhana.