Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 11

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

दैवे प्रस्थत्रयं योग्यं स्वयंभोः प्रस्थपंचकम् । एवं पूर्णफलं विद्यादधिकं वै द्वयं त्रयम्

Transliteration

daive prasthatrayaṃ yogyaṃ svayaṃbhoḥ prasthapaṃcakam | evaṃ pūrṇaphalaṃ vidyādadhikaṃ vai dvayaṃ trayam

Translation

Para sa Linga na itinalaga at pinabanal (banal na Linga), ang tatlong prastha ng handog ang nararapat; para sa Svayambhū Linga (kusang nahayag), limang prastha ang itinakda. Sa ganitong pagsamba, dapat malaman na nagiging ganap ang bunga—at lalo pang dumarami nang doble o triple.

Word by Word

• daive: in (the case of) the divine (rite)
• daive: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī (locative), Ekavacana

• prastha-trayam: three prasthas
• prastha-trayam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prastha (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (nom./acc.), Ekavacana; द्विगु-समास (numerical compound)

• yogyam: proper/suitable
• yogyam: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yogya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective

• svayaṃbhoḥ: of Svayaṃbhū (self-born deity)
• svayaṃbhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayaṃbhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th case/genitive), Ekavacana

• prastha-pañcakam: five prasthas
• prastha-pañcakam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prastha (प्रातिपदिक) + pañcaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; numerical compound meaning ‘five prasthas’

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (manner adverb)

• pūrṇa-phalam: full result
• pūrṇa-phalam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (accusative), Ekavacana; कर्मधारय: ‘complete fruit/result’

• vidyāt: one should know
• vidyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ-lakāra (optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• adhikam: additional
• adhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; comparative sense ‘additional’

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (nipāta)

• dvayam: two
• dvayam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; numeral substantive ‘a pair/two’

• trayam: three
• trayam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; numeral substantive ‘three’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Distinguishes consecrated (daiva) liṅga worship from svayambhū liṅga worship by prescribing larger naivedya-measures for the self-manifest liṅga, implying heightened sanctity and fruit.

Significance: Affirms that svayambhū-liṅgas (often tīrtha-kṣetras) yield amplified merit when worship is performed with proper dravya-pramāṇa; promises ‘pūrṇa-phala’ and multiplication of results.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion becomes especially fruitful when worship is performed with scriptural discipline (vidhi). Proper measure and reverence in Linga-puja bring “pūrṇa-phala” (complete spiritual merit), and for the Svayambhū Linga the merit is said to multiply further.

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

The Linga is Saguna Shiva’s accessible form for devotees; the verse specifies worship-standards (offerings by measure) for different Lingas, emphasizing that the Svayambhū (self-manifest) Linga is especially potent for gaining increased merit through correct Linga-puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to regulated Linga-puja with appropriately measured offerings (prastha), typically in the context of abhisheka and naivedya; the takeaway is to follow prescribed quantities and method as part of disciplined Shiva worship.