Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna
Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship
शिवानाममयं लिंगं नित्यं पूज्यं महर्षिभिः । यतश्च सर्वलिंगेषु तस्मात्पूज्यं विधानतः
śivānāmamayaṃ liṃgaṃ nityaṃ pūjyaṃ maharṣibhiḥ | yataśca sarvaliṃgeṣu tasmātpūjyaṃ vidhānataḥ
శివనామమయమైన ఈ లింగం మహర్షులచే నిత్యం పూజింపబడవలసినది. ఇది సమస్త లింగాలలో వ్యాపించి ఉన్నందున, విధి ప్రకారం దీనిని పూజించాలి.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The ‘śiva-nāma-maya’ idea aligns with Kāśī’s emphasis on nāma and mantra as living presence of Viśveśvara; the liṅga is treated as a mantra-body (nāma-śarīra) pervading all liṅgas, supporting pan-Śaiva pilgrimage unity.
Significance: Affirms that the liṅga is not merely a local icon but a universal locus of Śiva’s presence; worship ‘vidhānataḥ’ (by injunction) safeguards efficacy and aligns the paśu with Śiva’s grace.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Offering: dhupa
It teaches that Śiva’s Name and Śiva’s Linga are inseparable supports for devotion: by worshipping the Linga with reverence and right understanding, the devotee aligns with Pati (Śiva) and moves toward liberation through grace.
The verse presents the Linga as a universally present Saguna support through which the Nirguna reality of Śiva is approached; because it is ‘in all Lingas,’ worship done to the Linga is worship to Śiva everywhere, when performed with proper vidhi and bhakti.
Daily Linga-pūjā according to injunctions—especially Śiva-nāma-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) alongside orderly offerings/abhisheka—emphasizing disciplined, rule-based worship (vidhānataḥ).