Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 65

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

जलधाराः सहस्रेण शतेनैकोत्तरेण वा । कर्तव्या वेदमार्गेण नामभिर्वाथ वा पुनः

Transliteration

jaladhārāḥ sahasreṇa śatenaikottareṇa vā | kartavyā vedamārgeṇa nāmabhirvātha vā punaḥ

Translation

ആയിരം ജലധാരകളാലോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ നൂറ്റൊന്ന് ധാരകളാലോ ജലധാരാഭിഷേകം ചെയ്യണം. ഇത് വേദവിധിപ്രകാരം, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ശിവന്റെ പുണ്യനാമങ്ങൾ ഉച്ചരിച്ചും ചെയ്യാം.

Word by Word

• जलधाराः: streams of water
• जलधाराः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलधारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—जलस्य धाराः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सहस्रेण: by a thousand
• सहस्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• शतेन: by a hundred
• शतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एकोत्तरेण: with one more (i.e., 101)
• एकोत्तरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—एकेन उत्तरेण (एकाधिकेन) (तत्पुरुष)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative)

• कर्तव्याः: are to be done / should be performed
• कर्तव्याः: Vidhi/Prayojya (विधेय/प्रयोज्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—कर्तव्य (gerundive/भाव्य), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate obligation)

• वेदमार्गेण: by the Vedic method
• वेदमार्गेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—वेदस्य मार्गः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नामभिः: with names
• नामभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• अथ: then / alternatively
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• पुनः: again / further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed mode of Śiva worship to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Abhiṣeka with counted streams (1000/101) is a merit-amplifier; supports purification (mala-kṣaya) and receptivity to grace in Siddhānta praxis.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Pati (Śiva) may be expressed through disciplined ritual (Vedic mārga) or heartfelt remembrance through His names; both purify the pashu (bound soul) and loosen pasha (bondage) by directing the mind steadily toward Śiva.

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

The verse directly supports Saguna worship through liṅga-abhiṣeka (offering continuous water streams). It also affirms that reciting Śiva’s names alongside the offering completes the act by uniting outward worship with inward bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-liṅga abhiṣeka with 1001 (or 101) water streams, following Vedic procedure when possible; alternatively (or additionally), do nāma-japa—reciting Śiva’s sacred names such as the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during the offering.