Shloka 78

Shivamurti–Pratishtha Phala: Shivalaya-Nirmana, Kshetra-Mahatmya, Tirtha-Snana, and Mandala-Vidhi

Devanagari script

अग्रतस्तु तमोमूर्तिं मध्ये देवीं तथांबिकाम् पञ्चभूतानि तन्मात्रापञ्चकं चैव दक्षिणे

Transliteration

agratastu tamomūrtiṃ madhye devīṃ tathāṃbikām pañcabhūtāni tanmātrāpañcakaṃ caiva dakṣiṇe

Translation

À frente, deve-se colocar a manifestação de forma Tamas; no centro, a própria Deusa Ambikā. À direita, devem ser dispostos os cinco grandes elementos (pañca-bhūta) e também o quíntuplo das essências sutis (tanmātras).

Word by Word

• agratastu: in front indeed

• tamo-mūrtim: the form constituted of tamas (the tamasic manifestation)

• madhye: in the middle

• devīm: the Goddess

• tathā: likewise/indeed

• ambikām: Ambikā (the Mother, Śakti)

• pañca-bhūtāni: the five great elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether)

• tanmātrā-pañcakam: the pentad of subtle elements (sound, touch, form, taste, smell)

• ca eva: and also

• dakṣiṇe: on the right side

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, describing a ritual/yantric arrangement connected to Shiva-Shakti worship)

Characters & Entities

• Ambika
• Devi
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It gives a precise ritual-symbolic layout: Śakti (Ambikā) is centered, while the cosmic principles (bhūtas and tanmātras) are placed in ordered directions—showing that Linga worship integrates creation-tattvas into a Śiva-centered, Śakti-empowered rite.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By situating Ambikā at the center and arranging tamas and the elemental principles around, the verse implies Śiva-tattva as Pati (the transcendent Lord) who is worshipped through an ordered manifestation of śakti and tattvas—where bondage (pāśa) arises from guṇas/tattvas and is ritually purified by right knowledge and worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A tattva-based upāsanā/nyāsa-style arrangement used in Śaiva ritual: positioning guṇa-forms and the bhūta–tanmātra sets around the central Devī supports tattva-śuddhi (purification of principles) as a preparatory discipline aligned with Pāśupata-oriented worship.