Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi

Condensed Ritual Sequence

Devanagari script

दत्त्वा पञ्चविधं धूपं पायसं च निवेदयेत् दधिभक्तं च मध्वाज्यपरिप्लुतमतः परम्

Transliteration

dattvā pañcavidhaṃ dhūpaṃ pāyasaṃ ca nivedayet dadhibhaktaṃ ca madhvājyapariplutamataḥ param

Translation

先献上五种香（熏香），当以甜乳饭（pāyasa）为供食（naivedya）。其后，作为更上之供，应献以拌酸乳之饭，并以蜂蜜与酥油（ghee）丰润浸泽；由此圆满对林伽的诸供养——林伽乃帕提显现之标志，能令有情（paśu）脱离系缚（pāśa）。

Word by Word

• दत्त्वा: having given/offered

• पञ्चविधम्: fivefold, of five kinds

• धूपम्: incense/fumigation

• पायसम्: sweet rice (milk pudding)

• च: and

• निवेदयेत्: one should offer/present (as naivedya)

• दधिभक्तम्: rice mixed with curd (yogurt-rice)

• च: and

• मधु: honey

• आज्य: ghee/clarified butter

• परिप्लुतम्: well-suffused, drenched, richly moistened

• अतः परम्: thereafter, as the next/superior (offering).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes key upacāras—fivefold incense and specific naivedyas—showing that Linga-puja is completed through fragrant offering (dhūpa) and sanctified food (pāyasa, dadhibhakta with honey and ghee) presented to Pati, the Lord worshiped in the Linga.

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

Shiva is approached as Pati, the supreme recipient of worship made through pure substances; the ordered offerings imply His role as the inner sanctifier who accepts devotion and grants release of the paśu (individual soul) from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A structured Linga-puja naivedya-krama (sequence of offerings): offering incense (dhūpa) and consecrated foods as part of disciplined worship that supports Pāśupata-oriented purification and steadiness of mind.