Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

लिङ्गार्चनविधिक्रमः—शुद्धि, न्यास, आसनकल्पना, अभिषेक, स्तोत्र-प्रदक्षिणा

Adhyaya 27

Devanagari script

प्रणवेनैव गव्यैस्तु स्नापयेच्च यथाविधि आज्येन मधुना चैव तथा चेक्षुरसेन च

Transliteration

praṇavenaiva gavyaistu snāpayecca yathāvidhi ājyena madhunā caiva tathā cekṣurasena ca

Translation

唯诵普罗那瓦（Oṁ），应依仪轨以牛所出之圣供物为林伽灌沐；亦以酥油（ghee）、蜂蜜与甘蔗汁灌沐。如是 abhiṣeka 中，被缚之兽（pashu，灵魂）以清净、奉爱（bhakti）与真言，循戒仪而亲近主宰 Pati（湿婆），令诸缚索 pāśa 渐得松解。

Word by Word

• प्रणवेन (praṇavena): with the Praṇava, Oṁ

• एव (eva): alone/indeed

• गव्यैः (gavyaiḥ): with cow-products, bovine consecrants (milk, curd, etc.)

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• स्नापयेत् (snāpayet): should bathe, perform abhiṣeka

• च (ca): and

• यथाविधि (yathāvidhi): according to rule, as prescribed

• आज्येन (ājyena): with ghee

• मधुना (madhunā): with honey

• चैव (caiva): and also

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• इक्षुरसेन (ikṣurasena): with sugarcane juice

• च (ca): and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja procedures to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Om (Pranava)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prescribes a core abhiṣeka method: bathing the Linga with sanctifying substances (cow-products, ghee, honey, sugarcane juice) while anchoring the rite in Praṇava (Oṁ), emphasizing purity and mantra as the gateway to Śiva’s grace.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By placing Oṁ at the center of the rite, it points to Śiva as the supreme Pati accessed through mantra and sacred order (vidhi), where ritual purity becomes a means for the pashu to move toward liberation from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Linga-abhiṣeka (ritual bathing) performed yathāvidhi with Praṇava-japa—an applied devotional discipline aligned with Pāśupata orientation: purifying conduct, mantra, and offering to weaken bondage.