Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 66

लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera

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Devanagari script

अष्टपञ्चक्रमेणैव स्नापयित्वा मृदंभसा । गवां रसैश्च संस्नाप्य दर्भतोयैर्विशोध्य च

Transliteration

aṣṭapañcakrameṇaiva snāpayitvā mṛdaṃbhasā | gavāṃ rasaiśca saṃsnāpya darbhatoyairviśodhya ca

Translation

Mengikut tatacara yang ditetapkan dalam urutan lapan-dan-lima, hendaklah dimandikan (objek suci pemujaan) dengan air yang dicampur tanah liat; kemudian dimandikan lagi dengan sari-sari lembu (pañcagavya); dan akhirnya disucikan dengan air yang disakralkan oleh rumput darbha.

Word by Word

• अष्टपञ्चक्रमेण: by the thirteen-step sequence
• अष्टपञ्चक्रमेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: ‘अष्टपञ्च’ (eight and five = thirteen) + ‘क्रम’ → ‘अष्टपञ्चक्रम’ = ‘thirteenfold procedure’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• स्नापयित्वा: having bathed (it)/having caused (it) to be bathed
• स्नापयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (Causative) + क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund): ‘स्नापयित्वा’ = having bathed/caused to bathe

• मृदा: with clay/earth
• मृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अम्भसा: with water
• अम्भसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रसैः: with juices/essences (liquids)
• रसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• संस्नाप्य: having bathed (again)/having thoroughly bathed
• संस्नाप्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्ना (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्यय (Gerund/absolutive in -ya): ‘संस्नाप्य’ = having bathed well/after bathing

• दर्भतोयैः: with darbha-water (water mixed with darbha grass)
• दर्भतोयैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: ‘दर्भेण युक्तं तोयम्’ / ‘दर्भस्य तोयम्’ (water with darbha-grass)

• विशोध्य: having purified
• विशोध्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शुध् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्यय (Gerund/absolutive in -ya): ‘विशोध्य’ = having purified/cleansed

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it prescribes graded purification baths in an ‘aṣṭa-pañca-krama’ (eight-and-fivefold) sequence: clay-water bath, pañcagavya bathing, and darbha-sanitized water purification—typical of re-sanctification after interruption/impurity.

Significance: Models how sacred presence is maintained through purity disciplines; emphasizes that restoration is not merely symbolic but procedurally layered, supporting communal trust in the shrine’s sanctity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that approach to Shiva (Pati) begins with purification—outer ritual cleansing mirrors the inner removal of impurity (mala), preparing the devotee for grace through disciplined worship.

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

The verse outlines a practical sequence of linga-abhisheka and śuddhi (purificatory steps). By bathing and purifying the worship-support, the devotee honors Saguna Shiva in the Linga while cultivating reverence and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform abhisheka in an ordered manner: cleanse with clay-water, bathe with cow-products (gavāṃ rasa), and finish with darbha-sanitized water—ideally while maintaining mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).