Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

लिंगादावपि तत्कृत्यमर्चायां च विशेषतः । तत्तन्मूर्त्यात्मभावेन शिवो ऽस्माभिरुपास्यते

Transliteration

liṃgādāvapi tatkṛtyamarcāyāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ | tattanmūrtyātmabhāvena śivo 'smābhirupāsyate

Translation

லிங்கம் முதலியவற்றிலும் இதுவே கடமை; அர்ச்சா-விக்ரகத்தில் குறிப்பாக. அந்தந்த மூர்த்தியை ஆத்மச్వరூபமாகக் கொண்டு நாம் சிவனை வழிபடுகிறோம்.

Word by Word

• liṅga-ādau: in the liṅga etc.
• liṅga-ādau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (लिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (आदि, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (Avyayībhāva: 'in liṅga etc.'); पुल्लिङ्ग (ādi masc; compound), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निपात (particle: 'also/even')

• tat-kṛtyam: that prescribed act/duty
• tat-kṛtyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṛtya (कृत्य, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: 'that which is to be done/that duty'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• arcāyām: in worship/archā (iconic worship)
• arcāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcā (अर्चा, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'especially')

• tat-tat-mūrti-ātma-bhāvena: by the nature of each (respective) form-self
• tat-tat-mūrti-ātma-bhāvena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + tat (तद्) + mūrti (मूर्ति) + ātman (आत्मन्) + bhāva (भाव, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'by the state/nature of each such form-self'); पुल्लिङ्ग (bhāva masc), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object; one to be worshipped)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun); तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (plural)

• upāsyate: is worshipped
• upāsyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ās (उप-आस्, धातु)
• Form: तिङन्त (Tinganta), लट्-लकार (present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive voice), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Śiva-worship is not merely external ritual; the devotee should hold the inner conviction (bhāva) that Śiva, the Supreme Lord (Pati), is present as the very reality of the worshipped form, making arcana a direct means toward grace and liberation.

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

The verse affirms Saguna worship: whether one worships the Liṅga or a consecrated image, Śiva is approached through a specific form, while recognizing that His presence is not limited by the form—He indwells it as its inner Self.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While performing Liṅga/arcā pūjā, cultivate mūrti-ātma-bhāva—meditatively regard the Liṅga or image as Śiva Himself; accompany worship with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady this inner recognition.