Shloka 45
Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship
अथवाक्षरलक्षं वा ज्ञेयं शिवपदप्रदम् । सहस्रं तु सहस्राणां सहस्रेण दिनेन हि
athavākṣaralakṣaṃ vā jñeyaṃ śivapadapradam | sahasraṃ tu sahasrāṇāṃ sahasreṇa dinena hi
അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഒരു ലക്ഷം ജപം ശിവപദം നൽകുന്നതാണെന്ന് അറിയുക. ദിവസവും ആയിരം തവണ ജപിച്ചാൽ ആയിരം ദിവസങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് ഈ സംഖ്യ പൂർത്തിയാകും.
Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching on mantra-japa to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is portrayed as the place where ‘Śiva-pada’ is directly granted; the verse’s emphasis on akṣara-lakṣa as śivapada-prada resonates with the Kāśī tradition of Śiva’s liberating upadeśa and the efficacy of disciplined repetition.
Significance: Establishes a practical sādhana-krama: fixed total (lakṣa) and daily quota (sahasra) to complete the vow; supports vrata-like long-term japa culminating in Śiva’s supreme station.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that steady, counted mantra-japa—culminating in one lakh syllables—becomes a direct means to attain Shiva-pada (union with/attainment of the Lord’s state), emphasizing disciplined devotion rather than sporadic effort.
In the Vidyeshvara context, Saguna worship (such as Linga-upasana) is supported by mantra-japa as its inner limb: the devotee approaches Shiva with form through worship and with sound (mantra) through repetition, both leading toward Shiva’s grace and realization.
A practical vow of daily japa: complete the target by doing about 1,000 repetitions per day for 1,000 days (or an equivalent disciplined schedule), ideally with purity, devotion, and steady concentration on Shiva.