Shloka 26
Brahmā–Viṣṇu-Pūjā: Upacāra-Vistāra and Īśvara’s Prasāda
Offerings in Shiva Worship and the Lord’s Grace
अर्चयित्वाऽत्र मामेव लिंगे लिंगिनमीश्वरम् । सालोक्यं चैव सामीप्यं सारूप्यं सार्ष्टिरेव च
arcayitvā'tra māmeva liṃge liṃginamīśvaram | sālokyaṃ caiva sāmīpyaṃ sārūpyaṃ sārṣṭireva ca
ഇവിടെ ലിംഗത്തിൽ അധിവസിക്കുന്ന ലിംഗിയായ ഈശ്വരനായ എന്നെയേ അർച്ചിച്ചാൽ, സാലോക്യം, സാമീപ്യം, സാരൂപ്യം, സാർഷ്ടി എന്നീ ദിവ്യാവസ്ഥകൾ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।
Lord Shiva (teaching the fruits of Linga worship within the Vidyeshvara/Vishveshvara section, as narrated in the Shiva Purana’s instructional discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The verse frames liṅga-arcana as direct worship of the Liṅgin (Śiva) indwelling the liṅga; in the Kāśī/Viśveśvara milieu this is read as Viśvanātha granting the graded mukti-states (sālokya–sāmīpya–sārūpya–sārṣṭi) culminating in sāyujya.
Significance: Liṅga-worship with exclusive Śiva-niṣṭhā is said to yield proximity and participation in Śiva’s divine status, functioning as a soteriological ladder toward liberation.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that devoted Liṅga-worship is a direct means to Śiva’s grace, culminating in exalted states of liberation-like communion—sharing His realm, closeness, likeness, and divine participation—rather than mere worldly merit.
Śiva identifies Himself as the “Liṅgin,” the conscious Lord present within and revealed through the Liṅga; thus worship offered to the Liṅga is worship of Saguna Śiva as the accessible, gracious form of the Supreme.
Perform Liṅga-pūjā with focused devotion—offering water, flowers, and mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—contemplating that the Lord Himself is present in the Liṅga.