Shloka 24

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

वारपूजांशिवादीनामात्मशुद्धिप्रदां विदुः । तिथिनक्षत्रयोगानामाधारं सार्वकामिकम्

Transliteration

vārapūjāṃśivādīnāmātmaśuddhipradāṃ viduḥ | tithinakṣatrayogānāmādhāraṃ sārvakāmikam

Translation

ജ്ഞാനികൾ വാരാനുസൃതമായി ശിവാദികളുടെ പൂജയെ ആത്മശുദ്ധി നൽകുന്നതായി അറിയുന്നു. ഇത് തിഥി, നക്ഷത്ര, യോഗാധിഷ്ഠിത അനുഷ്ഠാനങ്ങൾക്ക് സർവകാമികമായ ആധാരമാണ്।

Word by Word

• वारपूजाम्: weekday-worship
• वारपूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार+पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: वारे (दिनविशेषे) पूजा (worship on a weekday)

• शिवादीनाम्: of Śiva and others
• शिवादीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव+आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवः आदिः येषाम् (of Śiva and others)

• आत्मशुद्धिप्रदाम्: granting self-purification
• आत्मशुद्धिप्रदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्म+शुद्धि+प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वारपूजाम्); तत्पुरुष: आत्मनः शुद्धिं प्रददाति इति (giver of self-purification)

• विदुः: they know/consider
• विदुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तिथि-नक्षत्र-योगानाम्: of lunar days, constellations, and yogas
• तिथि-नक्षत्र-योगानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि+नक्षत्र+योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: तिथयः च नक्षत्राणि च योगाः च (of tithis, nakṣatras, and yogas)

• आधारम्: support/basis
• आधारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सार्वकामिकम्: fulfilling all desires
• सार्वकामिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्व+कामिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (आधारम्); कर्मधारय: सर्वकामिकम् = सर्वेषां कामानां साधकम् (fulfilling all desires)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s ritual frame, Śiva as Viśveśvara is approached through properly timed worship; the calendrical order (vāra–tithi–nakṣatra–yoga) is treated as a supportive structure for efficacious pūjā, echoing Kāśī’s idea that right approach to Viśveśvara yields both purification and desired ends.

Significance: Darśana and pūjā oriented to inner purification (ātmaśuddhi) and fulfillment of legitimate aims (dharma–artha–kāma) as a preparatory ground for liberation.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that properly ordered worship—especially with Śiva as the primary focus—purifies the inner self (ātmaśuddhi), making the practitioner fit for grace (anugraha) and higher realization.

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

Weekday-based worship is a Saguna framework: devotees approach Śiva through accessible forms and rituals (including Liṅga-pūjā), and that disciplined devotion becomes the basis for all other auspicious observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular Śiva-pūjā with panchāṅga awareness (vāra, tithi, nakṣatra, yoga), using simple Shaiva essentials—japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering water/bilva, and cultivating purity of intention.