Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

लिंगशुद्धिं ततः कृत्वा मुदा युक्तो नरस्तदा । यथोचितं तु मंत्रौघैः प्रणवादिर्नमोंतकैः

Transliteration

liṃgaśuddhiṃ tataḥ kṛtvā mudā yukto narastadā | yathocitaṃ tu maṃtraughaiḥ praṇavādirnamoṃtakaiḥ

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ലിംഗശുദ്ധി നടത്തി, ഭക്ത്യാനന്ദത്തോടെ നിറഞ്ഞ ഉപാസകൻ വിധിപ്രകാരം മന്ത്രധാരയാൽ പൂജിക്കണം—പ്രണവം ‘ഓം’ കൊണ്ട് ആരംഭിച്ച് ‘നമഃ’ കൊണ്ട് അവസാനിപ്പിച്ച്।

Word by Word

• liṅga-śuddhim: purification of the liṅga
• liṅga-śuddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (लिङ्गस्य शुद्धिः)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Krama-avyaya (then/thereafter)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), pūrva-kāla-kriyā

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mud (प्रातिपदिक: mudā)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; bhāva-karaṇa (instrumental of manner)

• yuktaḥ: endowed/engaged
• yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; predicate adjective of ‘naraḥ’

• naraḥ: the man (worshipper)
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (then/at that time)

• yathā-ucitam: as appropriate
• yathā-ucitam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ucita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √uc)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa (यथोचितम् = as is proper); kriyā-viśeṣaṇa

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Viśeṣa-avyaya (तु/ indeed)

• mantra-oghaiḥ: with a multitude of mantras
• mantra-oghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (मन्त्राणाम् ओघः = multitude of mantras)

• praṇava-ādiḥ: beginning with ‘praṇava’ (Oṃ)
• praṇava-ādiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (प्रणवः आदिः यस्य = beginning with praṇava) used adjectivally (elliptic with ‘mantraughaḥ’)

• namo-ṃtakaiḥ: ending with ‘namaḥ’
• namo-ṃtakaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi (नमोऽन्तकाः = those ending with ‘namaḥ’) qualifying ‘mantraughaiḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ … namaḥ (praṇavādir namoṃtakaḥ)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer ritual purity (liṅga-śuddhi) should be joined with inner devotion (mudā) and disciplined mantra-recitation, aligning the worshipper with Śiva as Pati through reverent, rule-based practice.

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

The Liṅga is approached as Saguna Śiva—Śiva graciously accessible through form—where purification and mantra-offering become a concrete way to concentrate mind and devotion, culminating in salutations (namaḥ) that express surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

After performing liṅga-śuddhi, one should chant mantras in proper sequence—beginning with Oṁ (Praṇava) and concluding with ‘namaḥ’—as a focused japa/arcana practice during Śiva-pūjā.