Shloka 42

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

आर्द्रायां च महार्द्रायां शिवपूजा विशिष्यते । माघकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां सर्वाभीष्टफलप्रदा

Transliteration

ārdrāyāṃ ca mahārdrāyāṃ śivapūjā viśiṣyate | māghakṛṣṇacaturdaśyāṃ sarvābhīṣṭaphalapradā

Translation

ആർദ്രാ എന്നും മഹാ-ആർദ്രാ എന്നും നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളിൽ ചെയ്യുന്ന ശിവപൂജ പ്രത്യേകമായി ശ്രേഷ്ഠമാണ്. മാഘ മാസത്തിലെ കൃഷ്ണപക്ഷ ചതുര്ദശിയിൽ ചെയ്യുന്ന ആരാധന സർവ്വാഭീഷ്ടഫലം നൽകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• आर्द्रायाम्: on (the day of) Ārdrā (nakṣatra)
• आर्द्रायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्द्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; नक्षत्र-नाम (f.) Locative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महा-आर्द्रायाम्: on Mahā-Ārdrā
• महा-आर्द्रायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + आर्द्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• शिव-पूजा: worship of Śiva
• शिव-पूजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य पूजा)

• विशिष्यते: is especially distinguished / becomes excellent
• विशिष्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• माघ-कृष्ण-चतुर्दश्याम्: on the 14th lunar day of the dark fortnight of Māgha
• माघ-कृष्ण-चतुर्दश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः (निर्देश-तत्पुरुष): माघमासस्य कृष्णपक्षस्य चतुर्दशी

• सर्व-अभीष्ट-फल-प्रदा: granting all desired fruits
• सर्व-अभीष्ट-फल-प्रदा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभीष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: सर्वाणि अभीष्टानि फलानि प्रददातीति

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it sacralizes nakṣatra-based timing (Ārdrā/Mahā-Ārdrā) and Māgha kṛṣṇa-caturdaśī as especially potent for Śiva-pūjā.

Significance: Ārdrā is traditionally linked with Rudra; worship then is said to be ‘viśiṣṭa’ (distinguished), promising comprehensive fulfillment—an incentive for disciplined observance.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Māgha kṛṣṇa-caturdaśī plus Ārdrā/Mahā-Ārdrā nakṣatra emphasis (Rudra-associated timing)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that time (tithi and nakṣatra) can be made spiritually potent when dedicated to Pati (Shiva) through puja; worship offered with devotion on these auspicious occasions ripens quickly into desired worldly and spiritual outcomes.

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

The verse points to performing Shiva-puja on specific sacred timings, which in Shaiva practice is commonly done as Linga worship—approaching Saguna Shiva (with form and ritual) as the accessible gateway to His highest, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observe Māgha kṛṣṇa caturdaśī with Shiva-puja—offer water/milk to the Linga, apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma), recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintain a vrata (fast or disciplined restraint) according to capacity.