Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

अपूर्वपुष्पैर्विविधैश्चन्दनाद्यैस्तथैव च । जलेन जलधाराञ्च कल्पयेत्परमेश्वरे

Transliteration

apūrvapuṣpairvividhaiścandanādyaistathaiva ca | jalena jaladhārāñca kalpayetparameśvare

Translation

അപൂർവവും വിവിധവുമായ പുഷ്പങ്ങളാലും, ചന്ദനാദി പവിത്ര ഉപചാരങ്ങളാലും; ജലത്താൽ പരമേശ്വരനു ജലധാരകൾ ഒരുക്കി നിരന്തര അഭിഷേകരൂപത്തിൽ പൂജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• अपूर्व-पुष्पैः: with rare/new flowers
• अपूर्व-पुष्पैः: Karana (करण/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (unprecedented/new flowers)

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying apūrvapuṣpaiḥ)

• चन्दन-आद्यैः: with sandalwood and the like
• चन्दन-आद्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (sandalwood etc.)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed, also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• जलेन: with water
• जलेन: Karana (करण/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• जल-धाराः: streams of water
• जल-धाराः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (streams of water)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमेश्वरे: for/in the Supreme Lord (Parameśvara)
• परमेश्वरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (Supreme Lord)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva-worship procedures to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga-specific passage; it describes continuous water-stream abhiṣeka (jaladhārā), a hallmark of many Śiva temples and especially prominent in liṅga worship traditions.

Significance: Jaladhārā-abhiṣeka symbolizes uninterrupted devotion and inner purification; in Siddhānta, disciplined ritual (kriyā) supports removal of pāśa (bondage) and invites anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion becomes complete when inner reverence is expressed through pure offerings and especially through water-stream abhiṣeka, honoring Śiva as Parameśvara (Pati) who grants grace and spiritual upliftment.

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

The instruction to offer flowers, sandalwood, and continuous water-flow points directly to Liṅga-pūjā and Saguna worship—approaching the transcendent Śiva through a tangible sacred form and ritual action that steadies the mind in bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform jaladhārā (continuous water abhiṣeka) along with fragrant offerings; as a meditative support, maintain steady remembrance of Śiva (often with the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while offering each stream and flower.