Shloka 37
दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas
प्रथमं पार्थिवं कृत्वा पश्चात्स्थापनमाचरेत् । स्तोत्रैर्नानाविधैर्देवं तोषयेद्वृषभध्वजम्
prathamaṃ pārthivaṃ kṛtvā paścātsthāpanamācaret | stotrairnānāvidhairdevaṃ toṣayedvṛṣabhadhvajam
Mula-mula, setelah membentuk liṅga tanah (pārthiva), hendaklah kemudian dilakukan upacara penetapannya dengan sempurna. Dengan pelbagai jenis pujian suci, hendaklah dipuaskan Dewa—Śiva, yang panjinya bergambar lembu.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: This verse prescribes a vrata-rite using a self-made earthen liṅga; it is not tied to a pan-Indian Jyotirliṅga shrine narrative, but to the Vyādheśvara-māhātmya context where local liṅga-worship and Śivarātri observance are praised.
Significance: Merit accrues through correct liṅga-making (pārthiva), pratiṣṭhā, and stotra—framed as accessible household/temporary worship yielding Śiva’s satisfaction and grace.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that sincere, ordered worship—first preparing the sacred form (liṅga), then establishing it with reverence, and finally praising Śiva with devotion—purifies the devotee and aligns the soul (paśu) toward Pati (Śiva), making the heart fit for Śiva’s grace.
The earthen liṅga is a compassionate, accessible Saguna support for devotion. By installing it (sthāpana/pratiṣṭhā) and offering stotras, the devotee approaches the formless Nirguna reality through a sanctified form, as emphasized in Śaiva ritual practice.
It suggests Parthiva Liṅga worship: make an earthen liṅga, perform its respectful installation, and recite varied Śiva-stotras (optionally alongside the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to please Vṛṣabhadhvaja Śiva with steady bhakti.