Shloka 32

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

लिंगं दर्शनमात्रं वा नियमेन शिवप्रदम् । मृत्पिष्टगोशकृत्पुष्पैः करवीरेण वा फलैः

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ darśanamātraṃ vā niyamena śivapradam | mṛtpiṣṭagośakṛtpuṣpaiḥ karavīreṇa vā phalaiḥ

Translation

ଶିବଲିଙ୍ଗର କେବଳ ଦର୍ଶନ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯଦି ନିୟମପୂର୍ବକ କରାଯାଏ, ତେବେ ଶିବପ୍ରାପ୍ତି ଓ ଅନୁଗ୍ରହ ଦେଇଥାଏ। ମାଟିର ଲିଙ୍ଗ, ଗୋମୟର ପୁଷ୍ପ, କରବୀର ଫୁଲ କିମ୍ବା ଫଳ ଦେଇ କରାଯାଇଥିବା ପୂଜା ମଧ୍ୟ ଶିବକୃପାର ସାଧନ।

Word by Word

• liṅgam: liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• darśana-mātram: mere sight (alone)
• darśana-mātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): 'darśanasya mātram' = mere seeing

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• niyamena: by rule / with prescribed observance
• niyamena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śiva-pradam: bestowing Śiva/auspiciousness
• śiva-pradam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to 'liṅgam/darśanamātram'; तत्पुरुष-समास: 'śivam pradadāti' = giving Śiva/auspiciousness

• mṛt-piṣṭa-go-śakṛt-puṣpaiḥ: with flowers (made) of clay-paste and cow-dung
• mṛt-piṣṭa-go-śakṛt-puṣpaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + piṣṭa (कृदन्त, √piṣ 'to grind' क्त) + go (प्रातिपदिक) + śakṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative) qualifying 'puṣpaiḥ': flowers made of clay-paste and cow-dung

• karavīreṇa: with karavīra (oleander)
• karavīreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karavīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• phalaiḥ: with fruits
• phalaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of the Viśveśvara-saṃhitā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace is accessible even through simple acts—especially disciplined darśana (reverent beholding) of the liṅga—showing that sincere devotion, not expensive materials, is central to Śaiva worship.

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

The liṅga is the Saguna focus through which the devotee approaches the transcendent Śiva; the verse affirms that even seeing the liṅga with niyama and offering basic items (flowers, fruits) is spiritually efficacious and Śiva-granting.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform liṅga-darśana with niyama (purity, restraint, reverence) and offer simple upacāras like flowers (including karavīra where appropriate) or fruits—paired with inward devotion and remembrance of Śiva (e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī).