Shloka 55
Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya
Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification
कृतेध्यानाज्ज्ञानसिद्धिस्त्रेतायां तपसा तथा । द्वापरे यजनाज्ज्ञानं प्रतिमापूजया कलौ
kṛtedhyānājjñānasiddhistretāyāṃ tapasā tathā | dvāpare yajanājjñānaṃ pratimāpūjayā kalau
ในกฤตยุค ความสำเร็จแห่งญาณบรรลุได้ด้วยสมาธิ; ในเตรตายุคบรรลุได้ด้วยตบะเช่นกัน. ในทวาปรยุค ญาณเกิดจากยัญพิธี; และในกลียุค ญาณเกิดจากการบูชาพระปฏิมาอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของพระผู้เป็นเจ้า
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse gives a yuga-wise upāya (means) for jñāna—dhyāna/tapas/yajña/pratimā-pūjā—framing Kali-yuga accessibility through icon/arcā worship.
Significance: Establishes pratimā/arcā worship as a valid Kali-yuga means to jñāna, encouraging temple-based devotion as a direct soteriological aid.
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: Yuga-cycle pedagogy: Kṛta–Tretā–Dvāpara–Kali delineation of dominant sādhanā.
FAQs
It teaches that the primary discipline for realizing liberating knowledge changes by yuga: meditation in Kṛta, austerity in Tretā, yajña in Dvāpara, and accessible devotional worship in Kali—showing Śiva’s compassion in providing an attainable path suited to the age.
By affirming pratimā-pūjā in Kali Yuga, it supports Saguna worship—such as Śiva-liṅga worship—as a valid and powerful means to purify the soul (paśu), loosen bonds (pāśa), and lead toward the knowledge of Pati (Śiva).
For Kali Yuga, the takeaway is regular Śiva pratimā/Śivaliṅga pūjā with devotion—supported by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple, sincere offerings as one’s capacity allows.