Shloka 99

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

जपेदक्षरलक्षं वै चतुर्गुणितमादरात् नक्ताशी संयमी यश् च पौरश्चरणिकः स्मृतः

Transliteration

japedakṣaralakṣaṃ vai caturguṇitamādarāt naktāśī saṃyamī yaś ca pauraścaraṇikaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

ആദരത്തോടെ അക്ഷരലക്ഷത്തിന്റെ നാലിരട്ടി ജപം ചെയ്യണം. രാത്രിയിൽ മാത്രം ആഹാരം കഴിച്ച് സംയമത്തോടെ കഴിയുന്നവനെയാണ് പുരശ്ചരണികൻ എന്നു സ്മരിക്കുന്നത്.

Word by Word

• japet: should repeat (in japa)

• akṣara: syllable/letter (of the mantra)

• lakṣam: one hundred thousand

• vai: indeed

• catur-guṇitam: multiplied fourfold

• ādarāt: with reverence/earnest care

• naktāśī: one who eats at night only

• saṁyamī: self-restrained, disciplined

• yaḥ: who

• ca: and

• puraścaraṇikaḥ: performer of puraścaraṇa (mantra preparatory observance)

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/considered

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines a core Shaiva preparatory discipline (puraścaraṇa) for Linga-centered mantra practice: a regulated japa-count done with reverence and supported by vows, making the worship fit to yield mantra-siddhi through Śiva’s grace.

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

Implied is Śiva as Pati—the bestower of mantra-siddhi—who responds not merely to quantity but to ādarā (reverence) and saṁyama (inner restraint), indicating that liberation-oriented power arises when the pashu’s impurities and bonds (pāśa) are attenuated through disciplined practice.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Puraścaraṇa for mantra-japa: repeating the mantra by akṣara-count up to four lakhs, with the naktāśī observance (night-only meal) and saṁyama (self-restraint), aligning japa with Shaiva vrata and Pashupata-style discipline.