Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 22

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

तत्तत्सुखानुरागेण शिवपूजां विदुर्बुधाः । पीठमंबामयं सर्वं शिवलिंगं च चिन्मयम्

Transliteration

tattatsukhānurāgeṇa śivapūjāṃ vidurbudhāḥ | pīṭhamaṃbāmayaṃ sarvaṃ śivaliṃgaṃ ca cinmayam

Translation

Nalalaman ng mga pantas na ang pagsamba kay Śiva ay dapat gawin sa mapagmahal na debosyon tungo sa sukdulang kaligayahan. Nauunawaan nila na ang buong pīṭha ay nilulukuban ng Banal na Ina (Ambā), at ang Śiva-liṅga ay may likas na dalisay na Kamalayan.

Word by Word

• तत्-तत्: each (such)
• तत्-तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; distributive use ‘each/that-that’

• सुख-अनुरागेण: by attachment to pleasure
• सुख-अनुरागेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘sukhasya anurāgaḥ’

• शिव-पूजाम्: Śiva-worship
• शिव-पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): ‘śivasya pūjā’

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• पीठम्: the pedestal
• पीठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• अम्बा-मयम्: consisting of Ambā
• अम्बा-मयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बा (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट्/मय (प्रत्ययान्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to ‘पीठम्’; ‘made of/consisting of Ambā’

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to ‘पीठम्’

• शिव-लिङ्गम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिव-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): ‘śivasya liṅgam’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय)

• चिन्मयम्: of pure consciousness
• चिन्मयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट्/मय (प्रत्ययान्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to ‘शिवलिङ्गम्’; ‘made of consciousness’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vidyeshvara teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it provides a siddhāntic-āgamic hermeneutic of the liṅga-pīṭha: pīṭha/yoni as Ambā (Śakti) and liṅga as cinmaya (pure consciousness), grounding ritual in metaphysics.

Significance: Teaches devotees to perceive the sanctum as Śiva-Śakti ontology: worship becomes contemplative recognition (pratyabhijñā-like in flavor, though framed siddhāntically) leading toward Śivapada.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Ambā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Shiva-puja is not merely external ritual but devotion rooted in the taste of the highest bliss, recognizing Shiva as pure Consciousness (Cit) and Shakti (Ambā) as the supportive, all-pervading ground of worship.

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

The Linga is approached as a sacred form for worship (saguna upasana), yet its inner truth is nirguna—Shiva as cinmaya (pure awareness). The pīṭha is contemplated as Ambā/Śakti, indicating inseparability of Shiva and Shakti in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While performing Linga-puja, cultivate bhava (loving devotion) and meditate: the Linga is Consciousness itself and the pedestal is Śakti; mentally offer the worship with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” as an inner practice.