Shloka 55

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

विना भस्मत्रिपुंड्रेण विना रुद्रा क्षमालया । बिल्वपत्रं विना नैव पूजयेच्छंकरं बुधः

Transliteration

vinā bhasmatripuṃḍreṇa vinā rudrā kṣamālayā | bilvapatraṃ vinā naiva pūjayecchaṃkaraṃ budhaḥ

Translation

భస్మత్రిపుండ్రము లేక, రుద్రాక్షమాల లేక, బిల్వపత్రం లేక జ్ఞాని భక్తుడు శంకరుని పూజించకూడదు—ఇది శైవవిధిలో నిశ్చయం.

Word by Word

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/without-relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; preposition-like indeclinable ‘without’ (वियोगार्थक)

• bhasma-tripuṃḍreṇa: with the ash tripuṇḍra (three lines)
• bhasma-tripuṃḍreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/instrumental accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + tripuṃḍra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष ‘bhasmanā kṛtaṃ tripuṃḍram’ (ash-made tripuṇḍra)

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; ‘without’

• rudrākṣa-mālayā: with a rudrākṣa garland
• rudrākṣa-mālayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudrākṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष ‘rudrākṣāṇāṃ mālā’

• bilva-patram: a bilva leaf
• bilva-patram: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष ‘bilvasya patram’

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; ‘without’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• eva: indeed/at all
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म/object of worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• budhaḥ: a wise person
• budhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-worship disciplines to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya in the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvarasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is strengthened by traditional Shaiva disciplines—Bhasma Tripuṇḍra, Rudrākṣa, and Bilva—outer supports that steady devotion and remind the worshipper of Śiva’s grace and the aim of liberation (mokṣa).

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

These are classic upacāras and identifiers of Saguna Śiva worship, especially in Liṅga-pūjā: Bilva is a primary offering, while Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa mark the worshipper as aligned with Śiva while approaching the Liṅga with reverence and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply Tripuṇḍra with sacred ash, wear/chant with a Rudrākṣa mālā (often alongside the Pañcākṣarī—Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and offer Bilva leaves in Śiva-pūjā, especially on Mondays and Mahāśivarātri.