Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 61

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

पाठयमानेन मंत्रेण तथा वाङ्मयकेन च । रुद्रेण नीलरुद्रेण सुशुक्लेन सुभेन च

Transliteration

pāṭhayamānena maṃtreṇa tathā vāṅmayakena ca | rudreṇa nīlarudreṇa suśuklena subhena ca

Translation

ମନ୍ତ୍ରପାଠ ଓ ପବିତ୍ର ବାଙ୍ମୟ ଉଚ୍ଚାରଣ ଦ୍ୱାରା—ରୁଦ୍ର, ନୀଳରୁଦ୍ର, ଅତିଶୁକ୍ଳ ଓ ଶୁଭ ସ୍ୱରୂପ ଦ୍ୱାରା ମଧ୍ୟ—ଏହି କର୍ମ/ପୂଜା ପବିତ୍ର ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• पाठयमानेन: by (one) who is causing (it) to be recited/teaching
• पाठयमानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाठयत् (धातु √पठ्, णिच्) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्—शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—मन्त्रेण

• मन्त्रेण: by/with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• वाङ्मयकेन: by the verbal/word-made (formula)
• वाङ्मयकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाङ्मयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—(मन्त्रेण) वा (उपकरणेन)

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

• रुद्रेण: by Rudra
• रुद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• नीलरुद्रेण: by Nīlarudra (the blue Rudra)
• नीलरुद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः—नीलः रुद्रः इति कर्मधारयः

• सुशुक्लेन: by the very white (one)
• सुशुक्लेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः—सु(अत्यर्थे) + शुक्लः

• सुभेन: by the auspicious/good (one)
• सुभेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः—सु(अत्यर्थे) + भः/भम् (good/auspicious)

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

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse invokes Rudra in differentiated epithets (Rudra, Nīlarudra, ‘suśukla’, ‘subha’), reflecting multi-aspect divinity rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga legend.

Significance: Contemplation of Rudra’s manifold forms supports bhakti and dhyāna; in Siddhānta, recognizing the Lord’s gracious accessibility through names/forms aids the paśu’s orientation toward Pati.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Nilrudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva’s grace is accessed through disciplined mantra-recitation and sanctified speech—invoking Rudra’s auspicious forms (like Nīlarudra) to purify and consecrate the practitioner’s inner state.

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

The verse points to Saguna worship: specific named forms of Rudra (e.g., Nīlarudra, the pure/white and auspicious aspect) are invoked through mantra and vāṅmaya, which in Śaiva practice accompanies Liṅga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, and stotra-recitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa and reverent recitation (pāṭha) of sacred formulas—performed with purity of speech—especially Rudra-oriented mantras used alongside daily Śiva worship and meditative remembrance of Rudra’s auspicious form.