Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

त्रिरात्रमेकरात्रं वा क्रमाच्छिवपदं लभेत् । स्ववर्णानुगुणं लोके स्वाचारात्प्राप्नुते नरः

Transliteration

trirātramekarātraṃ vā kramācchivapadaṃ labhet | svavarṇānuguṇaṃ loke svācārātprāpnute naraḥ

Translation

മൂന്ന് രാത്രികൾ—അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഒരു രാത്രി മാത്രം—ആചരിച്ചാലും ക്രമേണ ശിവപദം പ്രാപിക്കും. ഈ ലോകത്ത് മനുഷ്യൻ തന്റെ വർണ്ണത്തിന് അനുയോജ്യമായ ഫലം യഥോചിത ആചാര-വ്രതങ്ങളാൽ നേടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• त्रि-रात्रम्: three nights
• त्रि-रात्रम्: Karma (कर्म; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—त्रिरात्रम् (three nights)

• एक-रात्रम्: one night
• एक-रात्रम्: Karma (कर्म; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—एकरात्रम् (one night)

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

• क्रमात्: gradually, in sequence
• क्रमात्: Hetu (हेतु/means-manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘क्रमात्’ = ‘क्रमेण’ (in due order/gradually)

• शिव-पदम्: Śiva’s state/abode
• शिव-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• स्व-वर्ण-अनुगुणम्: suitable to one’s own varṇa
• स्व-वर्ण-अनुगुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—स्ववर्णानुगुणम् (स्वस्य वर्णस्य अनुगुणम्)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्व-आचारात्: from one’s own conduct
• स्व-आचारात्: Apadana (अपादान; source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—स्वाचारः (स्वस्य आचारः)

• प्राप्नुते: attains
• प्राप्नुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), आत्मनेपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The kṣetra’s graded accessibility is emphasized: even brief residence (1–3 nights) yields progressive approach to śivapada, while dharma aligned to one’s āśrama/varṇa supports the fruit.

Significance: Encourages inclusivity through ‘minimum viable’ observance; stresses that disciplined conduct (svācāra) harmonizes with kṣetra-grace to produce appropriate spiritual results.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a short, sincere observance (one night) can become a step toward Shivapada—union with Śiva—when performed with steadiness and progressive purification (krama), emphasizing accessible grace through disciplined devotion.

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

The verse supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā through timed observances (vratas) typically centered on Śiva worship—often Linga-pūjā—showing that regular, rule-bound devotion matures into the liberating attainment called Shivapada.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to night-based Śiva-vrata observance (e.g., keeping vigil, worship, japa, and purity disciplines). The core takeaway is to follow one’s prescribed Śaiva conduct (svācāra) steadily, even if the duration is brief.