Shloka 55
Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship
लिंगाद्धस्तशतं पुण्यं क्षेत्रे मानुषके विदुः । सहस्रारत्निमात्रं तु पुण्यक्षेत्रे तथार्षके
liṃgāddhastaśataṃ puṇyaṃ kṣetre mānuṣake viduḥ | sahasrāratnimātraṃ tu puṇyakṣetre tathārṣake
మనుష్యులు స్థాపించిన క్షేత్రంలో శివలింగం నుండి వంద హస్తాల వరకు పుణ్యప్రదమని విద్వాంసులు చెబుతారు; ఋషిసంస్కృతమైన పుణ్యక్షేత్రంలో అయితే అది సహస్ర అరత్నుల వరకు విస్తరించును.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: The verse distinguishes degrees of kṣetra-potency by origin: a mānuṣa (human-established) precinct has limited radius of sanctity around the liṅga, while an ārṣa (ṛṣi-sanctified) kṣetra has vastly expanded efficacy—implying accumulated tapas and consecratory lineage.
Significance: Teaches pilgrims and ritualists that sanctity is not merely architectural but depends on consecration-source and spiritual lineage; proximity (parisara) matters for merit and liberation-oriented practice.
FAQs
It teaches that sacredness is not only architectural but arises from Śiva’s presence and the sanctifying power of an established kṣetra; a seer-sanctified holy field carries a far wider spiritual influence than an ordinary, man-made precinct.
The Liṅga is treated as Saguna Śiva’s accessible form; the verse quantifies the ‘field of grace’ around it, implying that worship, japa, and reverence performed within that sphere become especially fruitful.
Undertake darśana and pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) of the Liṅga within the sacred boundary, and perform mantra-japa (especially Śiva’s names/Pañcākṣarī) while staying close to the Liṅga in a recognized puṇya-kṣetra.