Shloka 22

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

तत्तत्सुखानुरागेण शिवपूजां विदुर्बुधाः । पीठमंबामयं सर्वं शिवलिंगं च चिन्मयम्

Transliteration

tattatsukhānurāgeṇa śivapūjāṃ vidurbudhāḥ | pīṭhamaṃbāmayaṃ sarvaṃ śivaliṃgaṃ ca cinmayam

Translation

ആ പരമസുഖത്തോടുള്ള പ്രേമഭക്തിയാൽ ജ്ഞാനികൾ ശിവപൂജയെ അറിയുന്നു. അവർ സമസ്ത പീഠത്തെയും അംബാമയം (ദേവീവ്യാപ്തം) എന്നും, ശിവലിംഗത്തെ ചിന്മയം (ശുദ്ധചൈതന്യസ്വരൂപം) എന്നും ഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्-तत्: each (such)
• तत्-तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; distributive use ‘each/that-that’

• सुख-अनुरागेण: by attachment to pleasure
• सुख-अनुरागेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘sukhasya anurāgaḥ’

• शिव-पूजाम्: Śiva-worship
• शिव-पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): ‘śivasya pūjā’

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• पीठम्: the pedestal
• पीठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• अम्बा-मयम्: consisting of Ambā
• अम्बा-मयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बा (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट्/मय (प्रत्ययान्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to ‘पीठम्’; ‘made of/consisting of Ambā’

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to ‘पीठम्’

• शिव-लिङ्गम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिव-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): ‘śivasya liṅgam’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय)

• चिन्मयम्: of pure consciousness
• चिन्मयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट्/मय (प्रत्ययान्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to ‘शिवलिङ्गम्’; ‘made of consciousness’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vidyeshvara teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it provides a siddhāntic-āgamic hermeneutic of the liṅga-pīṭha: pīṭha/yoni as Ambā (Śakti) and liṅga as cinmaya (pure consciousness), grounding ritual in metaphysics.

Significance: Teaches devotees to perceive the sanctum as Śiva-Śakti ontology: worship becomes contemplative recognition (pratyabhijñā-like in flavor, though framed siddhāntically) leading toward Śivapada.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Ambā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Shiva-puja is not merely external ritual but devotion rooted in the taste of the highest bliss, recognizing Shiva as pure Consciousness (Cit) and Shakti (Ambā) as the supportive, all-pervading ground of worship.

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

The Linga is approached as a sacred form for worship (saguna upasana), yet its inner truth is nirguna—Shiva as cinmaya (pure awareness). The pīṭha is contemplated as Ambā/Śakti, indicating inseparability of Shiva and Shakti in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While performing Linga-puja, cultivate bhava (loving devotion) and meditate: the Linga is Consciousness itself and the pedestal is Śakti; mentally offer the worship with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” as an inner practice.