Shloka 26
Liṅga–Bera Pūjā: Nitya-Arcana and Upacāras as an Accessible Sādhana (लिङ्गबेरपूजा-विधानम्)
श्रोतुमिच्छामि योगींद्र लिंगाविर्भावलक्षणम् । नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । शृणु वत्स भवत्प्रीत्या वक्ष्यामि परमार्थतः
śrotumicchāmi yogīṃdra liṃgāvirbhāvalakṣaṇam | naṃdikeśvara uvāca | śṛṇu vatsa bhavatprītyā vakṣyāmi paramārthataḥ
“Wahai tuan di antara para yogin, aku ingin mendengar tanda-tanda kemunculan Liṅga.” Nandikeśvara berkata: “Dengarlah, wahai anak. Demi kasih sayang kepadamu, akan kujelaskan menurut kebenaran yang tertinggi.”
Nandikeśvara (responding to a yogīndra interlocutor in the dialogue)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Introductory dialogue framing the Liṅga’s āvirbhāva-lakṣaṇa (marks of manifestation); sets up the later Liṅgodbhava narrative that undergirds Jyotirliṅga theology in general (Śiva self-revealed as the infinite pillar).
Significance: Śravaṇa (reverent listening) to Liṅga-māhātmya is presented as a preparatory limb of bhakti leading toward right understanding of Pati (Śiva) and release from pāśa (bondage).
FAQs
The verse frames the Liṅga as Śiva’s accessible manifestation for devotees and yogins, and signals that its meaning should be understood at the level of paramārtha (highest truth), not merely as an external symbol.
By asking for the “marks of the Liṅga’s manifestation,” the text positions Liṅga-worship as a concrete Saguna support through which the devotee approaches the Supreme Śiva, who is ultimately beyond form yet graciously revealed for devotion.
The immediate practice implied is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and contemplation of Liṅga-tattva; it prepares the practitioner for focused Liṅga-dhyāna and devotional worship (pūjā) grounded in correct understanding.