Shloka 9

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

षोडशैरुपचारैश्च कुर्यात्तत्फलसिद्धये । पुष्पेण प्रोक्षणं कुर्यादभिषेकं समंत्रकम्

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśairupacāraiśca kuryāttatphalasiddhaye | puṣpeṇa prokṣaṇaṃ kuryādabhiṣekaṃ samaṃtrakam

Translation

ഫലസിദ്ധിക്കായി ശിവനെ ഷോഡശോപചാരങ്ങളാൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം പൂജിക്കണം. പുഷ്പങ്ങളാൽ പ്രോക്ഷണം ചെയ്ത്, മന്ത്രസഹിതം അഭിഷേകം നടത്തണം।

Word by Word

• षोडशैः: with sixteen
• षोडशैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘with sixteen’ (qualifying upacāraiḥ)

• उपचारैः: offerings / services
• उपचारैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘with services/offerings’

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

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘should do/perform’

• तत्: of that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of that’ (linking to phala)

• फल: result
• फल: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; in compound with सिद्धये (goal)

• सिद्धये: for attainment
• सिद्धये: सम्प्रदान (Dative/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘for accomplishment’

• पुष्पेण: with a flower
• पुष्पेण: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘with a flower’

• प्रोक्षणम्: sprinkling (ritual)
• प्रोक्षणम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रोक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; object of kuryāt

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘should do’

• अभिषेकम्: ablution (ritual bathing)
• अभिषेकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; object of kuryāt

• समन्त्रकम्: accompanied by mantras
• समन्त्रकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘with mantras’ qualifying अभिषेकम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General pūjā-vidhi: ṣoḍaśopacāra, prokṣaṇa with flowers, and mantra-accompanied abhiṣeka—applicable at any Śiva shrine including Jyotirliṅgas.

Significance: Codifies core temple/home worship: upacāra-sevā and abhiṣeka as primary acts through which the bound soul (paśu) approaches the Lord (pati) and receives grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion becomes spiritually effective when expressed through complete, reverent worship—offering the traditional sixteen upacāras and sanctifying the rite with mantra and abhiṣeka, aligning the devotee with Pati (Śiva) through disciplined bhakti.

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

The verse specifically supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā through Liṅga-pūjā: honoring Śiva with upacāras and bathing (abhiṣeka) the Liṅga while reciting mantras, which is a central Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā method for approaching the formless through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with the sixteen upacāras, do flower-aspersion (prokṣaṇa), and complete a mantra-accompanied abhiṣeka—ideally with Śiva mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").