Shloka 13

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 74 — ब्रह्मप्रोक्तलिङ्गार्चनविधिः

Materials, Classes, and Fruits of Linga-Worship

Devanagari script

त्य्पेस् ओफ़् लिङ्गस् अच्च्। तो मतेरिअल् षड्विधं लिङ्गमित्याहुर् द्रव्याणां च प्रभेदतः तेषां भेदाश्चतुर्युक्तचत्वारिंशदिति स्मृताः

Transliteration

types of liṅgas acc. to material ṣaḍvidhaṃ liṅgamityāhur dravyāṇāṃ ca prabhedataḥ teṣāṃ bhedāścaturyuktacatvāriṃśaditi smṛtāḥ

Translation

Mereka menyatakan bahawa Liṅga itu enam jenis, menurut perbezaan bahan (dravya). Daripadanya, pembahagian menurut tradisi diingati berjumlah empat puluh empat keseluruhannya.

Word by Word

• ṣaḍ-vidham: sixfold

• liṅgam: the (Śiva-)Liṅga

• iti: thus

• āhuḥ: they say/declare

• dravyāṇām: of substances/materials

• ca: and

• prabhedataḥ: by (their) differentiation/classification

• teṣām: of those (six kinds)

• bhedāḥ: subdivisions/types

• catur-yukta: augmented by four/with four added

• catvāriṃśat: forty

• iti: thus

• smṛtāḥ: remembered/traditionally taught

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga-classification tradition to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes a canonical framework: Śiva’s Liṅga used in pūjā is classified by material (dravya) into six primary kinds, further expanded into a traditional total of forty-four, guiding correct selection and installation.

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

By allowing many material forms while retaining one referent, it implies Śiva as Pati—the single, transcendent reality—accessible through diverse symbolic supports (liṅga) without reducing Him to any one substance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to dravya-based liṅga-pratiṣṭhā and liṅga-pūjā: choosing an appropriate material liṅga as an external support that steadies devotion and supports inner discipline aligned with Pāśupata-oriented Śaiva practice.