Shloka 78

देवादिसृष्टिकथनम् (वसिष्ठशोकः, पराशरजन्म, एकलिङ्गपूजा, रुद्रदर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

होतारं लिङ्गसूक्तं च अथर्वशिर एव च अष्टाङ्गमर्घ्यं रुद्राय दत्त्वाभ्यर्च्य यथाविधि

Transliteration

hotāraṃ liṅgasūktaṃ ca atharvaśira eva ca aṣṭāṅgamarghyaṃ rudrāya dattvābhyarcya yathāvidhi

Translation

होतार, लिंगसूक्त व अथर्वशिर यांचे पठण करून, रुद्राला अष्टांग अर्घ्य अर्पून विधिपूर्वक अर्चना करावी।

Word by Word

• होतारम् (hotāram): the Hotṛ-invocation / priestly Vedic call

• लिङ्गसूक्तम् (liṅgasūktam): the hymn to the Liṅga

• च (ca): and

• अथर्वशिरः (atharvaśiraḥ): the Atharvaśiras Upaniṣadic hymn (Rudra-Atharvaśiras)

• एव (eva): indeed

• च (ca): and

• अष्टाङ्गम् (aṣṭāṅgam): eight-limbed / eightfold

• अर्घ्यम् (arghyam): arghya offering (ritual oblation of honor, typically water with auspicious items)

• रुद्राय (rudrāya): to Rudra (Śiva)

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having offered

• अभ्यर्च्य (abhyarcya): having worshipped reverentially

• यथाविधि (yathāvidhi): according to rule / as enjoined by śāstra

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prescribes a mantra-centered Liṅga-pūjā: recitation of key Rudra/Śiva hymns and the offering of aṣṭāṅga-arghya, emphasizing that correct vidhi (procedure) makes worship efficacious and grace-bearing.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is addressed as Rudra, the Pati who is approached through Vedic revelation (mantra). The verse implies Śiva-tattva as the supreme recipient of worship whose grace dissolves pāśa (bondage) for the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Vedicized Rudra-Liṅga pūjā practice: chanting Hotṛ/Śiva hymns (including Atharvaśiras) and offering eightfold arghya—an external discipline that supports inner Pāśupata orientation toward liberation.