Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

सर्वो लिंगमयो लोकस्सर्वं लिंगे प्रतिष्ठितम् । तस्मात्प्रतिष्ठिते लिंगे भवेत्सर्वं पतिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

sarvo liṃgamayo lokassarvaṃ liṃge pratiṣṭhitam | tasmātpratiṣṭhite liṃge bhavetsarvaṃ patiṣṭhitam

Translation

సర్వ లోకము లింగమయమే; సమస్తమూ లింగములోనే ప్రతిష్ఠితమై ఉంది. కనుక లింగము విధివిధానంగా ప్రతిష్ఠితమైతే, అన్నీ స్థిరంగా ప్రతిష్ఠితమైనట్లే అవుతుంది.

Word by Word

• सर्वः: entire, all
• सर्वः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (लोकः)

• लिङ्गमयः: consisting of the liṅga
• लिङ्गमयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धितार्थे ‘मयट्’ (made of/consisting of) भाव; विशेषण (लोकः)

• लोकः: world
• लोकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (द्वितीयार्थेऽपि रूपसाम्य)

• लिङ्गे: in the liṅga
• लिङ्गे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु, उपसर्ग प्रति-)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (is established)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निपातवत्; हेत्वर्थे ‘therefore/from that’ (ablatival adverb)

• प्रतिष्ठिते: when/where (it is) installed
• प्रतिष्ठिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गे)

• लिङ्गे: in the liṅga
• लिङ्गे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be / becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: established
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A universal liṅga-metaphysics statement: the cosmos is liṅga-maya and grounded in the liṅga; consecrating the liṅga stabilizes the world-order (dharma) by anchoring it in Pati.

Significance: Encourages liṅga-pratiṣṭhā as a cosmic-supporting act; pilgrims/householders gain the sense of participating in sustaining order through Śiva-centered worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Liṅga is the cosmic ground of being—Śiva as Pati is the inner support of all existence—so establishing the Liṅga signifies aligning one’s life and world with that supreme foundation.

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

The verse presents the Liṅga as Saguna access to the transcendent Lord: by worship and consecration of the Liṅga, devotees approach the all-pervading Śiva who sustains the universe while remaining beyond it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā (proper consecration) and steady daily Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a way to ground the mind in Śiva.