Shloka 20

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

आषाढे मौक्तिकं लिङ्गं श्रावणे नीलनिर्मितम् मासि भाद्रपदे लिङ्गं पद्मरागमयं शुभम्

Transliteration

āṣāḍhe mauktikaṃ liṅgaṃ śrāvaṇe nīlanirmitam māsi bhādrapade liṅgaṃ padmarāgamayaṃ śubham

Translation

ในเดือนอาษาฒะ พึงบูชาลึงค์ที่ทำด้วยมุก; ในเดือนศราวณะ พึงบูชาลึงค์ที่ทำด้วยนิลมณี (ไพลิน/แซฟไฟร์). และในเดือนภัทรปทอันเป็นมงคล พึงสักการะลึงค์ที่ทำด้วยปัทมรากะ (ทับทิม).

Word by Word

• āṣāḍhe: in Āṣāḍha (month)

• mauktikam: made of pearl

• liṅgam: the Śiva-liṅga

• śrāvaṇe: in Śrāvaṇa (month)

• nīla-nirmitam: fashioned from nīla (blue gem/sapphire)

• māsi: in the month

• bhādrapade: in Bhādrapada (month)

• liṅgam: the liṅga

• padmarāga-mayam: made of padmarāga (ruby)

• śubham: auspicious, auspiciously efficacious

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a month-wise discipline of offering specific gem-made liṅgas, emphasizing regulated, auspicious substances (śubha-dravya) to refine devotion and align the worshipper (paśu) toward Pati, Śiva.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the one Reality who accepts diverse upacāras without being limited by them—gems are sanctifying supports for the devotee’s focus, while Śiva remains transcendent as Pati beyond material forms.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A structured pūjā-vidhi (monthly observance) using ratna-liṅgas; as a Shaiva discipline it supports inner purification—loosening pāśa (bondage) through regular worship and intentional offering.