Shloka 115

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठा रक्षणीया सा जपकर्मणि शोभने अङ्गुष्ठेन जपेज्जप्यम् अन्यैरङ्गुलिभिः सह

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhā rakṣaṇīyā sā japakarmaṇi śobhane aṅguṣṭhena japejjapyam anyairaṅgulibhiḥ saha

Translation

శోభనమైన జపకర్మలో కనిష్ఠికను నియమంగా నిలుపవలెను; బొటనవేలితో, ఇతర వేళ్లతో కూడి, జప్యమంత్రాన్ని జపించవలెను।

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठा: the little finger

• रक्षणीया: to be guarded/kept restrained

• सा: that (finger)

• जपकर्मणि: in the act of japa/mantra repetition

• शोभने: auspicious/beautiful

• अङ्गुष्ठेन: with the thumb

• जपेत्: one should repeat

• जप्यम्: the mantra to be repeated

• अन्यैः अङ्गुलिभिः: with the other fingers

• सह: together

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja and japa procedure within the Linga Purana tradition)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It gives a practical japa-vidhi used in Shiva-sadhana: disciplined finger-use while repeating Shiva-mantras, supporting steadiness (niyama) in Linga-puja.

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

By emphasizing orderly japa, it points to Shiva as Pati—the liberating Lord—approached through regulated practice that purifies the pashu (individual soul) from pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa technique: counting/pressing with the thumb while keeping the little finger restrained, a common discipline supporting focused Pashupata-style mantra-sadhana.