Shloka 1

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

कृत्तिकाशुक्रवारेषु गजकोमेडयाजनात्

Transliteration

kṛttikāśukravāreṣu gajakomeḍayājanāt

Translation

कृत्तिकायां शुक्रवारे च यदा संयोगो भवति, तदा गजकोमेडादिदानयुतं यजनं महत्फलप्रदं, शिवभक्तिं दृढयति, तदनुग्रहेण मोक्षमार्गं च पुष्णाति।

Word by Word

• कृत्तिका: on the Kṛttikā (nakṣatra)
• कृत्तिका: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-भावे (locative)

• शुक्रवारेषु: on Fridays
• शुक्रवारेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्रवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अधिकरण-भावे (locative plural)

• गजकोमेडयाजनात्: from the elephant-and-ram sacrifice (gaja-komeḍa yajña)
• गजकोमेडयाजनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + कोमेड + याजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान-भावे (ablative: 'from/by means of')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This line functions as a calendrical-ritual specification (nakṣatra-vāra yoga) for heightened efficacy of Śiva-yajana; it is not tied to a single jyotirliṅga in the verse itself.

Significance: Observing auspicious nakṣatra-vāra combinations is presented as amplifying ritual fruit (phala) and devotion, preparing the bound soul (paśu) for Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that devotion to Śiva becomes especially fruitful when performed at highly auspicious time-combinations (nakṣatra and weekday), indicating that right timing can intensify bhakti and merit that supports liberation by Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

The verse presumes ritual worship (yajana) directed to Saguna Śiva—commonly through the Śiva-liṅga—where offerings and observances are external supports that focus the mind and surrender, leading toward inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests performing Śiva worship on Friday when Kṛttikā is present, with prescribed offerings according to tradition; in practice, devotees may pair this with pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and liṅga-abhiṣeka as the core sādhana.