Shloka 56
पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi
Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship
तावकस्त्वद्गुणप्राणस्त्वच्चित्तोहं सदा मृड । कृपानिध इति ज्ञात्वा भूतनाथ प्रसीद मे
tāvakastvadguṇaprāṇastvaccittohaṃ sadā mṛḍa | kṛpānidha iti jñātvā bhūtanātha prasīda me
Wahai Mṛḍa, Yang Maha Lembut, aku milik-Mu—nyawaku hidup oleh kebajikan-Mu, dan fikiranku sentiasa tertambat pada-Mu. Mengetahui-Mu sebagai lautan belas kasihan, wahai Bhūtanātha, Tuhan segala makhluk, berkenanlah mengasihani aku.
A devotee addressing Lord Shiva (as framed within Suta Goswami’s narration in the Vidyeshvara Samhita)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The devotee’s plea to Bhūtanātha and the stress on Śiva as kṛpānidhi resonates with Kāśī’s Viśveśvara as the bestower of taraka-upadeśa and grace to bound souls; the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā milieu naturally evokes Kāśī’s salvific Śiva.
Significance: Darśana and worship oriented to Śiva’s anugraha—seeking forgiveness, protection, and liberation through His compassion.
Mantra: तावकस्त्वद्गुणप्राणस्त्वच्चित्तोहं सदा मृड । कृपानिध इति ज्ञात्वा भूतनाथ प्रसीद मे
Type: stotra
FAQs
The verse expresses śaraṇāgati (complete surrender): the devotee identifies life and mind as anchored in Śiva’s guṇas and seeks His prasāda (grace). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, liberation is ultimately completed by Śiva’s anugraha when the soul turns wholly toward Him.
By calling Śiva “Mṛḍa” and “Bhūtanātha,” the devotee approaches Saguna Śiva—compassionate and personal—who is worshiped in the Liṅga as the accessible form of the Supreme. The mental fixation on Śiva (tvat-cittaḥ) complements external Liṅga worship with inner devotion.
The verse points to daily japa and dhyāna: keep the mind on Śiva while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering a simple prayer for grace. As a Shaiva practice, this can be paired with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steady remembrance.