Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 77
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
हैमाभावे राजतं वा ताम्रजं शैलजन्तथा । मृन्मयं वा यथालाभं जातुषं चान्यदेव वा
haimābhāve rājataṃ vā tāmrajaṃ śailajantathā | mṛnmayaṃ vā yathālābhaṃ jātuṣaṃ cānyadeva vā
اگر سونا میسر نہ ہو تو چاندی، یا تانبا، یا پتھر کا بھی (لِنگ) ہو سکتا ہے؛ یا دستیابی کے مطابق مٹی کا، یا لاکھ/رَجَن (ریزِن) کا—یا کوئی اور مناسب مادّہ بھی۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Codifies graded accessibility (gold→silver→copper→stone→clay→resin): Śiva’s grace is not restricted by wealth; the pashu’s bondage is loosened by steady worship, not luxury.
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva accepts worship grounded in bhakti and right intention; the sanctity of Linga-upasana is not limited by wealth, because the devotee’s sincerity is primary.
It directly concerns Saguna Shiva worship through the Linga, stating that the Linga (or worship-support) may be fashioned from various materials—gold, silver, copper, stone, clay, resin—according to availability, affirming accessibility of Linga devotion.
A practical takeaway is to perform Linga-puja with whatever pure material is obtainable, maintaining mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) and devotional focus rather than delaying worship for lack of costly items.