Shloka 52

Devanagari script

प्रणवेनैव मन्त्रेण पूजयेल्लिङ्गमूर्धनि स्तोत्रं जपेच्च विधिना नमस्कारं प्रदक्षिणम्

Transliteration

praṇavenaiva mantreṇa pūjayelliṅgamūrdhani stotraṃ japecca vidhinā namaskāraṃ pradakṣiṇam

Translation

പ്രണവം (ഓം) മാത്രമന്ത്രം കൊണ്ടു ലിംഗത്തിന്റെ ശിഖരത്തിൽ പൂജ ചെയ്യണം; വിധിപ്രകാരം സ്തോത്രജപം, നമസ്കാരം, പ്രദക്ഷിണം നടത്തണം.

Word by Word

• प्रणवेन (praṇavena): by the Praṇava ‘Oṃ’

• एव (eva): alone/indeed

• मन्त्रेण (mantreṇa): with the mantra

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): should worship

• लिङ्गमूर्धनि (liṅga-mūrdhani): on the crown/top of the Liṅga

• स्तोत्रम् (stotram): hymn/praise

• जपेत् (japet): should recite/mutter

• च (ca): and

• विधिना (vidhinā): according to the prescribed method

• नमस्कारम् (namaskāram): salutation/prostration

• प्रदक्षिणम् (pradakṣiṇam): circumambulation (keeping the deity to one’s right).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It condenses the core acts of Liṅga-pūjā—Oṃ as the mantra, worship at the Liṅga’s summit, stotra-japa, namaskāra, and pradakṣiṇā—showing a complete, orthodox sequence for approaching Śiva as Pati.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By prescribing the Praṇava as sufficient for worship, it implies Śiva as the supreme, all-pervading consciousness signified by Oṃ—accessible through devotion and right ritual, who grants release of the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical Śaiva pūjā-vidhi: mantra (Praṇava), stotra-japa (disciplined recitation), namaskāra (ego-surrender), and pradakṣiṇā (reverential circumambulation), aligning devotion with Pāśupata orientation toward liberation.