Shloka 8
Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya
The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga
अष्टमूर्तिषु सर्वासु मूर्तिर्वै पार्थिवी वरा । अनन्यपूजिता विप्रास्तपस्तस्मान्महत्फलम्
aṣṭamūrtiṣu sarvāsu mūrtirvai pārthivī varā | ananyapūjitā viprāstapastasmānmahatphalam
Trong mọi Aṣṭamūrti (tám hóa thân) của Śiva, hình tướng bằng đất (pārthivī) quả là thù thắng nhất. Hỡi các brāhmaṇa, khi được thờ phụng bằng lòng sùng kính không phân tán, pháp hành ấy trở thành khổ hạnh (tapas) cho quả báo vô cùng lớn lao.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single jyotirliṅga; it interprets the earthen Liṅga as pre-eminent among aṣṭamūrti expressions, stressing ananya-bhakti as the key that converts worship into tapas with great fruit.
Significance: Teaches that simplicity plus one-pointed devotion yields mahāphala; supports household vrata-style worship accessible in Kali.
FAQs
It teaches that worship of Śiva in a simple earthen form, when done with one-pointed devotion (ananya), becomes true tapas and yields great spiritual merit, aligning worship with inner surrender rather than external grandeur.
The Pārthiva Liṅga is a Saguna, accessible support for devotion; the verse praises it as the best among the aṣṭamūrti forms because it enables concentrated, exclusive worship that leads the devotee toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.
Perform Pārthiva Liṅga pūjā (making and worshipping a clay liṅga) with ananya-bhāva, ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” treating the worship itself as tapas.