Shloka 21

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे प्रथमायां विद्येश्वरसंहितायां साध्यसाधनखण्डे पार्थिवपूजनवर्णनं नामैकविंशोऽध्यायः

Transliteration

iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe prathamāyāṃ vidyeśvarasaṃhitāyāṃ sādhyasādhanakhaṇḍe pārthivapūjanavarṇanaṃ nāmaikaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

Sa gayon, sa Śrī Śiva-Mahāpurāṇa, sa unang Saṃhitā na tinatawag na Vidyeśvara-saṃhitā, sa loob ng Sādhyasādhanakhaṇḍa, nagtatapos ang ika-dalawampu’t isang kabanata na pinamagatang “Paglalarawan ng Pārthiva (lupang) Pagsamba.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• śrīśivamahāpurāṇe: in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa
• śrīśivamahāpurāṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śiva + mahā + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member Tatpurusha title-compound

• prathamāyām: in the first
• prathamāyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with saṃhitāyām

• vidyeśvarasaṃhitāyām: in the Vidyeśvara-saṃhitā
• vidyeśvarasaṃhitāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā + īśvara + saṃhitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpurusha: vidyeśvarasya saṃhitā

• sādhyasādhanakhaṇḍe: in the section on ends and means
• sādhyasādhanakhaṇḍe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhya + sādhana + khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); dvandva within tatpurusha: (sādhya-sādhana) + khaṇḍa

• pārthivapūjanavarṇanam: description of earthen worship
• pārthivapūjanavarṇanam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/शीर्षक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva + pūjana + varṇana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpurusha: pārthivasya pūjanasya varṇanam

• nāma: named/called
• nāma: Discourse/title marker (संज्ञासूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable used in titles (नाम-शब्दः, संज्ञासूचक अव्यय)

• eka-viṃśaḥ: twenty-first
• eka-viṃśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); numeral dvigu forming ordinal/cardinal ‘twenty-one’ qualifying adhyāyaḥ

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Colophon (adhyāya-samāpti); no shrine narrative.

Significance: Marks textual closure of the pārthiva-pūjā teaching; used liturgically to delimit recitation units (pārāyaṇa).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This is a chapter-colophon that formally seals the teaching: it highlights that Pārthiva (earthen) Linga worship is presented as a valid sādhana (means) toward the sādhya (spiritual goal), aligning devotion and disciplined practice toward Shiva’s grace.

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

By naming the chapter “Pārthiva-pūjanavarṇana,” it frames the Linga as the accessible Saguna support for worship—through which the devotee approaches the transcendent Shiva, ultimately aiming at liberation through devotion and right practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to Pārthiva Pūjā—forming and worshipping an earthen Linga with reverence—typically accompanied in this tradition by mantra-japa (often the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offerings, and focused meditation on Shiva.