Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 69
लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera
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पूजां च महतीं कुर्याद्देवमावाह्य पूर्ववत् । अलब्धे स्थापिते लिंगे शिवस्थाने जले ऽथ वा
pūjāṃ ca mahatīṃ kuryāddevamāvāhya pūrvavat | alabdhe sthāpite liṃge śivasthāne jale 'tha vā
เมื่ออัญเชิญเทพดังที่กล่าวไว้ก่อนแล้ว พึงประกอบพิธีบูชาอย่างยิ่งใหญ่ หากไม่มีศิวลึงค์ที่ได้ทำการประดิษฐานแล้ว ก็พึงบูชา ณ สถานที่ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของพระศิวะ หรือแม้กระทั่งในน้ำได้เช่นกัน।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Generalized sthala principle: if no consecrated liṅga is available, Śiva may be approached in any Śiva-kṣetra (śivasthāna) or even through jalādhāra (water) as an accessible support (ālambana) for worship.
Significance: Affirms Śiva’s universal accessibility: devotion and correct invocation can substitute for lack of a formal pratimā/liṅga, emphasizing anugraha over material limitation.
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva’s grace is accessible through proper invocation and devotion; even without a formally consecrated Liṅga, worship can be valid when performed in a Śiva-sanctified place or with water as a pure support for worship.
The Liṅga is affirmed as a primary Saguna support for worship, yet the verse broadens the method: when a consecrated Liṅga is not at hand, Śiva may still be worshipped through sanctioned alternatives (Śiva-sthāna or water) after due āvāhana (invocation).
Perform āvāhana (invocation) and then conduct ‘pūrvavat’ worship—i.e., the previously taught Shiva-pūjā sequence; if needed, use a Śiva-sacred site or water as the worship-support, accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).