Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera

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Devanagari script

सवेदिकं समभ्यर्च्य दिव्याद्यं तु जलाशयम् । नीत्वाधिवासयेत्तत्र लिंगं पिंडिकया सह

Transliteration

savedikaṃ samabhyarcya divyādyaṃ tu jalāśayam | nītvādhivāsayettatra liṃgaṃ piṃḍikayā saha

Translation

Depois de venerar devidamente o reservatório sagrado de água juntamente com o seu altar (vedikā), traga-se a água divina, digna do rito; e ali realize-se o adhivāsa, a instalação consagratória do Śiva-liṅga com o seu pedestal (piṇḍikā).

Word by Word

• स-वेदिकम्: together with the vedikā (base)
• स-वेदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थ) + वेदिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (वेदिकया सह—‘with the altar/base’)

• सम्-अभ्यर्च्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्-अभ्यर्च्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), परस्मैपद-धातु; ‘having worshipped’

• दिव्य-आद्यम्: divine and foremost
• दिव्य-आद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (दिव्यं च आद्यं च—‘divine and foremost/primary’)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• जल-आशयम्: water-reservoir/pond
• जल-आशयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जलस्य आशयः)

• नीत्वा: having taken (it)
• नीत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having led/taken’

• अधिवासयेत्: should perform adhivāsa/consecrate (by lodging)
• अधिवासयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + वस् (धातु) [अधिवासयति, णिच्]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (to cause to stay/perform adhivāsa consecration)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: ‘there’)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पिण्डिकया: with the piṇḍikā
• पिण्डिकया: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक-अव्यय (with)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Adhivāsa (pre-consecratory ‘indwelling’ rite) is a key threshold in Siddhānta pratiṣṭhā: it ritually invites Śiva’s presence into the liṅga, preparing for full installation and bestowal of grace upon worshippers.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that approaching Śiva through saguna worship is done with purity and right order: sanctifying the place and water first, then establishing the liṅga, so the devotee’s outer rite mirrors inner readiness for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

The verse is explicitly procedural: the liṅga (Śiva in worshipful form) is to be installed only after worshipping the ritual setting (vedikā) and the sacred water source, emphasizing reverence to the supports of liṅga-pūjā and the completeness of liṅga with its piṇḍikā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests adhivāsa and pratishtha-oriented discipline: purify and worship the ritual space and water, then install the liṅga with its pedestal; in practice this is commonly accompanied by mantra-japa (especially pañcākṣarī) and ceremonial purification with water.