Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 77
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
हैमाभावे राजतं वा ताम्रजं शैलजन्तथा । मृन्मयं वा यथालाभं जातुषं चान्यदेव वा
haimābhāve rājataṃ vā tāmrajaṃ śailajantathā | mṛnmayaṃ vā yathālābhaṃ jātuṣaṃ cānyadeva vā
பொன் இல்லையெனில் வெள்ளி, அல்லது செம்பு, அல்லது கல்லினாலும் (லிங்கம்) அமைக்கலாம்; அல்லது கிடைப்பதற்கேற்ப மண்ணால், அல்லது லாக்கா/பிசின் (ரெசின்) மூலம்—அல்லது வேறு ஏதாவது தகுந்த பொருளாலும் செய்யலாம்.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Codifies graded accessibility (gold→silver→copper→stone→clay→resin): Śiva’s grace is not restricted by wealth; the pashu’s bondage is loosened by steady worship, not luxury.
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva accepts worship grounded in bhakti and right intention; the sanctity of Linga-upasana is not limited by wealth, because the devotee’s sincerity is primary.
It directly concerns Saguna Shiva worship through the Linga, stating that the Linga (or worship-support) may be fashioned from various materials—gold, silver, copper, stone, clay, resin—according to availability, affirming accessibility of Linga devotion.
A practical takeaway is to perform Linga-puja with whatever pure material is obtainable, maintaining mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) and devotional focus rather than delaying worship for lack of costly items.