Shloka 9
Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship
न्यूनं चेत्फलमल्पं स्यादधिकं नैव दूष्यते । कर्तुरेकांगुलन्यूनं चरेपि च तथैव हि
nyūnaṃ cetphalamalpaṃ syādadhikaṃ naiva dūṣyate | karturekāṃgulanyūnaṃ carepi ca tathaiva hi
หากขาดไป ผลย่อมน้อย; แต่หากเกิน ก็ไม่ถือเป็นโทษ เช่นเดียวกัน หากขาดจากมาตราที่กำหนดสำหรับผู้ประกอบพิธีเพียงหนึ่งอังคุละ ผลก็ย่อมลดลงตามนั้น
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vidyeshvara Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Sthala Purana: A general principle of ritual economy: deficiency reduces fruit; excess is not दोष. Applied to measurement/standard (aṅgula) for the performer/commissioner in cara practice as well.
Significance: Encourages generosity and careful observance in Śiva-worship; reassures devotees that over-fulfilling prescriptions is acceptable while under-fulfilling diminishes merit.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-worship has a dharmic “measure”: negligence or deficiency reduces spiritual merit, while sincere excess in devotion is not दोष (a blemish). The verse emphasizes careful, reverent observance rather than casual ritual.
In Linga-puja to Saguna Shiva, offerings and prescribed measures symbolize inner discipline and steadiness of bhakti. The Purana notes that shortfall weakens the फल (result), whereas offering more—when done with devotion—does not corrupt the worship.
Perform Linga-puja and related observances (e.g., mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara, proper offerings, and measured ritual steps) with attentiveness; avoid cutting corners, and if you add more in devotion, it is acceptable.